Transgenic animals expressing human immunoglobulin genes

Patent Summary

Methods for the production of transgenic animals expressing immunoglobulin genes from another animal are described. This could lead to the specific production of, for example, human antibodies of various classes in non-human animals such as mice or farm animals. The antibodies could be used in humans for therapy of cancer and other diseases or to alter physiological states in humans.

The transgenic animals were constructed to have targeted insertions of the desired immunoglobulin genes into the homologous place in the mouse genome. The heavy and light chains were sequentially constructed and a minilocus inserted into a mouse zygote where it recombines at the correct locus. In one example unrearranged human heavy chains were introduced into the genome of the mouse which then functionally rearranged the genes. Also described is the use of antisense RNA to functionally block the expression of the endogenous mouse immunoglobulin genes.