The CD44 Knockout THP-1 Cell Line is a CRISPR/Cas9-edited knockout cell line derived from the human THP-1 acute monocytic leukemia cell line. This model features targeted disruption of the CD44 gene, which encodes the transmembrane receptor for hyaluronic acid (HA). The knockout abolishes CD44 surface expression, providing a defined genetic background for investigating CD44-dependent functions in monocyte and macrophage biology. It serves as a powerful tool for dissecting CD44-mediated adhesion, migration, and signal transduction pathways in a leukemic context.
THP-1 is a human acute monocytic leukemia cell line originally isolated from the peripheral blood of a patient with acute monocytic leukemia. These cells exhibit monocytic characteristics and can be differentiated into macrophage-like cells upon treatment with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). THP-1 cells are widely employed to model monocyte/macrophage differentiation, polarization, and inflammatory responses. The parental line expresses CD44 and responds to hyaluronic acid stimulation, making it an ideal host for studying CD44 function.
CD44 is a transmembrane receptor for hyaluronic acid that mediates cell?Ccell and cell?Cmatrix adhesion, lymphocyte homing, migration, and tumor progression. Its engagement activates Src and FAK, leading to PI3K/AKT and Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK signaling. Expression is driven by TNF-??, IL-1??, TGF-??, and transcription factors NF-??B and AP-1. Downstream signaling results in ERK and AKT phosphorylation, Rho GTPase (RhoA, Rac1) activation, and ??-catenin nuclear translocation, inducing transcription of targets like c-Myc, cyclin D1, MMP-9, Snail, and Twist. Cytoskeletal linkage occurs via ERM proteins and ankyrin, while co-receptor interactions with EGFR and c-Met potentiate signaling.
Disruption of CD44 in THP-1 cells abrogates hyaluronan-induced PI3K/AKT and MAPK/ERK pathway activation, impairing adhesion, migration, and inflammatory responses. This knockout model provides a clean system to dissect CD44??s role in leukemia cell biology, macrophage differentiation and polarization, leukemic stem cell maintenance, and drug resistance. As THP-1 is a acute myeloid leukemia model, the CD44 knockout enables disease-relevant functional studies.
The CD44 Knockout THP-1 Cell Line is applicable to a range of experimental settings. Typical applications include studies of leukemia cell adhesion and migration using hyaluronan adhesion assays and Transwell migration assays, macrophage differentiation and polarization assessed by phagocytosis assays and cytokine ELISA, and drug resistance mechanisms evaluated via drug sensitivity assays. It is also suited for analyzing leukemia stem cell biology and for screening CD44-targeted therapies. Standard analytical techniques include flow cytometry to confirm CD44 loss, western blotting, RT-qPCR, and cell viability assays (MTT). For further technical information and availability, please contact Ascent Research.
