Il6 Knockout mouse models
Il6, the mouse ortholog of human IL6, encodes a four-helix bundle cytokine that first binds the nonsignaling Il6ra alpha chain and then recruits two Il6st gp130 molecules to assemble a hexameric complex that activates Jak1 and phosphorylates Stat3, driving Socs3 feedback, hepatic acute phase gene induction, Th17 differentiation with Tgfb, and plasma cell survival. A defining feature is trans-signaling, in which ADAM17-shed soluble Il6ra confers responsiveness on gp130-positive cells lacking the alpha chain, a distinction that shapes allele design: a straight null collapses both arms, an Il6ra conditional or a gp130 chimeric decoy isolates trans-signaling, and humanized IL6 or IL6R knockins are the only credible platform for testing tocilizumab, sarilumab, or siltuximab in vivo. Nulls are viable with blunted acute phase and impaired infection responses, and because Il11, Lif, and Osm also converge on gp130, cytokine-level redundancy should be anticipated when interpreting modest phenotypes.
Whole body loss of Il6 gives the clearest readout when the question is whether the gene is required at all. Follow up tissue work can still move to a conditional allele if lethality or compensation appears.
What Il6 Knockout mouse models are available?
ingenious targeting laboratory offers 2 distinct Il6 knockout catalog mouse models. Researchers can order pre-developed catalog lines or request a custom mouse model, including humanized, knockin, and transgenic variations with verified germline transmission.
Designing a Il6 Knockout allele
A straight null is the right first pass for necessity questions and the wrong tool for mechanism, since it removes classic and trans-signaling at once. Homozygotes are viable and fertile with a markedly blunted acute phase response, impaired control of Listeria and other pathogens, near resistance to collagen-induced arthritis and to experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, and delayed liver and skeletal muscle regeneration after injury. Two interpretive traps recur. Modest phenotypes often reflect Il11, Lif, and Osm converging on the same gp130 receptor, so compensation should be measured rather than assumed, and protection in metabolic models has been inconsistent across colonies, pointing to microbiome and background effects that require cohousing and littermate controls. Delete the full coding region and confirm absence of protein by bioassay as well as immunoassay. Read serum amyloid A, haptoglobin, Stat3 phosphorylation, Th17 frequency, and regeneration endpoints.
A conventional knockout answers whether the gene is required broadly. When your target tissue is the organ of interest, a global null can still be informative if viability is acceptable and you want the simplest genotype. If the null is harsh, a floxed allele with a regional Cre is the safer long term platform.
Pricing and quotes
The Il6 Knockout lines listed above are catalog models. Send us the catalog number and our team confirms current availability, pricing, and whether the line ships cryopreserved or live.
If your study needs a Il6 allele configuration that is not listed above, our scientific team designs and generates it. Model generation quotes return in about twenty four hours with project milestones and pricing.
FAQ
What Il6 Knockout mouse models are available?
When Il6 Knockout lines are in catalog, we ship from inventory. If your configuration is not listed, we design the allele to order. Common paths include conditional knockout, constitutive knockout, humanized, knockin, and transgenic options, with documented germline transmission and United States QC.
Is Il6 knockout embryonic lethal in mice?
It depends on background and allele design. Some Il6 germline knockouts are viable. Others need conditional alleles or mixed backgrounds. We review publications and our own experience, then recommend floxed versus null before you commit.
Which Cre driver is best for experiments?
Driver choice depends on onset timing, recombination efficiency, and known leak. We map your organ and cell type to a short list of proven Cre lines, then talk through reporter crosses and controls. We favor drivers with strong community validation for your tissue.
Do you ship live Il6 animals?
When catalog lines are live, we ship with health certificates and QC documentation. If your exact combo is not listed, we quote a generation project with cryo or live dispatch depending on cohort timing and geography.
How do I request a quote for Il6?
Use the catalog inquire buttons or the request quote form. Include your allele goal, Cre plan if any, strain background, and cohort size. A PhD led team responds with pricing, milestones, and the fastest path to experimental animals.