The APCS Knockout HAP1 Polyclonal Cells are a CRISPR/Cas9-edited polyclonal knockout cell population targeting the human APCS gene. This loss-of-function model consists of a heterogeneous pool of HAP1 cells, avoiding clonal artifacts and suitable for population-level functional studies. The polyclonal format is ideal for screening applications and bypasses time-consuming single-cell cloning.
The host cell line, HAP1, is a near-haploid human cell line derived from KBM-7 chronic myeloid leukemia cells. Its haploid karyotype simplifies knockout generation and phenotypic analysis, reducing genetic buffering. HAP1 cells maintain myeloid lineage features and are extensively used for genetic screening and innate immunity research, offering robust growth and easy culture.
APCS encodes the serum amyloid P component (SAP), a member of the pentraxin family of pattern recognition receptors. SAP exhibits calcium-dependent binding to amyloid fibrils, chromatin, and apoptotic cells, and is transcriptionally regulated by pro-inflammatory cytokines including IL-6, IL-1, and TNF-??. Upon engagement with its ligands, SAP directly interacts with the C1q component of complement and Fc?? receptors (Fc??R), triggering activation of the classical complement cascade and downstream cleavage of C3 and C4. This opsonization event promotes phagocytic uptake of debris and apoptotic material. Additionally, SAP stabilizes amyloid deposits and influences immune complex clearance, thereby shaping both innate immune responses and the progression of amyloidogenic diseases such as Alzheimer disease and systemic amyloidosis.
In the HAP1 near-haploid cell model, APCS disruption offers a unencumbered system to study SAP function. The absence of a second allele eliminates compensatory effects, allowing clear detection of altered C1q/C3/C4 complement activation, Fc??R-mediated signaling, and phagocytic efficiency. This knockout population therefore serves as a powerful genetic tool for cell-autonomous dissection of amyloid clearance mechanisms and innate immune pathways, complementing in vivo and primary cell studies.
Applications include amyloid disease modeling, immune clearance assays, and complement activation studies. Representative techniques include Western blotting and ELISA for SAP detection, complement hemolysis assays, amyloid binding and phagocytosis assays, and immunofluorescence for ligand uptake. These cells are also suitable for CRISPR-based genetic screens to identify modifiers of SAP-mediated processes. For additional technical details or to place an order, please contact Ascent Research.
