CRISPR/Cas9 Mediated Deletion of the Uox Gene Generates a Mouse Model of Hyperuricemia with Multiple Complications

Abstract

Hyperuricemia is a common metabolic disorder with severe complications. We aimed to develop a mouse model for spontaneous hyperuricemia. Uox-/- mouse model was generated on C57BL/6J background by deleting exon 2-4 of Uox using the CRISPR/Cas9 system. The prototypic Uox-/-mice had 5.5-fold increased serum uric acid (1351.04±276.58μmol/L) as compared to the wild type mice (P<0.0001), but died by 4 weeks. After allopurinol (3ug/g) intervention, they all survived > 8 weeks. The serum uric acid was 612.55±146.98μmol/L in the 8-week-old allopurinol-rescued Uox-/-mice, which manifested multiple complications including severe renal insufficiency, hypertension, left ventricular remodeling and systolic dysfunction, aortic endothelial dysfunction, hepatic steatosis and elevated liver enzymes, as well as hyperglycemia and hypercholesteremia. The present Uox-/- mice developed spontaneous hyperuricemia complicated with urate nephropathy, cardiovascular disease and cardiometabolic disorders, and may provide a novel tool to study hyperuricemia associated early-onset cardiovascular disorders in human. Graphical Abstract A mouse model of hyperuricemia with multiple complications constructed by knocking out of urate oxidase (Uox) using CRISPR/Cas9 technology. Uox-/-: homozygous; Uox+/-: heterozygous; SUA: serum uric acid; ALT: alanine aminotransferase; AST: aspartate aminotransferase.