The mineralization phenotype in Abcc6 ( -/- ) mice is affected by Ggcx gene deficiency and genetic background--a model for pseudoxanthoma elasticum.

ABSTRACT: Pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by ectopic mineralization of connective tissues and shows considerable intra- and inter-familial phenotypic variability. PXE is caused by mutations in the ABCC6 gene, and targeted ablation of Abcc6 in mouse recapitulates PXE. In this study, we examined the hypothesis that the GGCX gene encoding gamma-glutamyl carboxylase may interfere with the mineralization process in Abcc6 ( -/- ) mice. Thus, Abcc6 ( -/- ) and Ggcx (+/-) mice were generated on 129S1;C57 and 129S1;129X1;C57 genetic backgrounds, respectively, and backcrossed with C57BL/6J for five generations. Thus, these strains differ by the 129X1 contribution to the background of the mice. We then generated Abcc6 ( -/- ) ;Ggcx (+/+) and Abcc6 ( -/- ) ;Ggcx (

SUBMITTER: Li Q 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2879630 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature