Description

The Tbx15 Knockout THP-1 Cell Line is a CRISPR/Cas9-edited human acute monocytic leukemia cell line with targeted disruption of the TBX15 gene. This ready-to-use knockout model enables reproducible loss-of-function studies, eliminating the need for in-house genome engineering. By abolishing TBX15 expression, researchers can directly investigate the transcription factor??s function in monocyte/macrophage biology and related disease contexts.

THP-1 cells, derived from a 1-year-old male with acute monocytic leukemia, are a widely used model for studying monocyte differentiation and macrophage polarization. Upon PMA treatment, they differentiate into adherent macrophage-like cells with phagocytic and cytokine-production capabilities, mimicking primary macrophages. Their robust responsiveness and genetic tractability make THP-1 an ideal host for gene-editing applications in immunology, cancer, and drug discovery.

TBX15 encodes a T-box transcription factor that binds T-box elements in target gene promoters, integrating BMP, Wnt, and FGF signaling to control limb development, mesenchymal cell fate, and adipogenesis. Upstream activators include BMP2, BMP4, Wnt3a, and FGF8, while NF-??B also regulates expression. TBX15 directly promotes FGF10, SOX9, DLX5, and adipogenic regulators ADIPOQ and PPARG. It forms complexes with SMAD4, ??-catenin, TCF/LEF, TBX4, and NCOR1 to coordinate gene expression. A canonical pathway involves BMP receptor?CSMAD1/5/8 activation of TBX15, which then induces FGF10 transcription.

In THP-1 cells, TBX15 knockout provides a unique system to probe the transcription factor??s roles outside development. Promoter hypermethylation of TBX15 occurs in bladder, colorectal, and other cancers, suggesting tumor-suppressive functions. This model permits examination of TBX15 in leukemic cell growth, differentiation, and metastasis, as well as in macrophage-mediated inflammatory responses. Furthermore, connections to adipogenesis open avenues for studying metabolic regulation of immune cells, relevant to obesity-associated diseases.

Applications include Western blotting, RT-qPCR, and RNA-seq for expression profiling; flow cytometry for macrophage markers; PMA-induced differentiation; migration/invasion assays; and ChIP-qPCR for methylation analysis. Sequencing validates CRISPR/Cas9 disruption. This cell line enables investigation of TBX15 in signal transduction, cancer epigenetics, adipogenesis, and immune cell function. For further details, contact Ascent Research.