The CD44 Knockout Jurkat Polyclonal Cells are a CRISPR/Cas9-edited polyclonal knockout cell population generated from the Jurkat human T lymphocyte cell line. This product provides a pooled knockout model in which the CD44 gene has been disrupted using CRISPR/Cas9 technology, yielding a heterogeneous population suitable for functional genomics and signaling studies.
The Jurkat cell line is an immortalized human T lymphocyte line established from the peripheral blood of a 14-year-old male with T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). Jurkat cells are widely used as a model system for studying T cell activation, signaling, and apoptosis, and they recapitulate key features of leukemic T cells. Their rapid growth and well-characterized signaling pathways make them an ideal host for CRISPR-based gene knockout studies aimed at dissecting T cell biology and disease mechanisms.
CD44 is a transmembrane receptor for hyaluronic acid that orchestrates cell adhesion and signaling via ERM proteins and Src family kinases, activating PI3K/AKT and MAPK/ERK pathways. Upstream, cytokines such as TNF-?? and TGF-??, and transcription factors including NF-??B and AP-1 regulate CD44 expression. Downstream, CD44 signaling promotes MMP2 and MMP9 expression, and transcriptional programs involving SNAI1 and ZEB1 that facilitate migration and invasion. In lymphocytes, CD44 regulates activation, homing, and survival, with dysregulation contributing to tumor progression and autoimmune pathology.
In Jurkat T cells, CD44 mediates adhesion to hyaluronan and transduces signals critical for T cell activation and migration. Disruption of CD44 in this polyclonal knockout model impairs hyaluronan binding and downstream AKT and ERK signaling, enabling dissection of CD44-specific roles in immune cell function. This system is particularly suited for exploring mechanisms of leukemic cell adhesion and dissemination, as well as for validating CD44 as a therapeutic target in T-ALL and other hematopoietic malignancies.
Key applications include hyaluronic acid adhesion assays, Transwell migration and invasion experiments, and flow cytometry for surface marker profiling. Western blot analysis of phosphorylated AKT and ERK, along with RT-qPCR for MMP2 and MMP9, provide quantitative signaling readouts. Co-immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence assays can assess CD44?CERM protein interactions and cytoskeletal changes. These cells also support drug screening campaigns aimed at disrupting CD44-mediated signaling. For additional information or to inquire about testing, contact Ascent Research.
