The CTSC Knockout Raji Polyclonal Cells provide a CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene-disrupted model of CTSC in a human B-lymphoblastoid line. This product consists of a polyclonal knockout population derived from Raji cells, featuring heterogeneous edits that eliminate cathepsin C function. The non-clonal format reduces selection bias and is suitable for initial functional studies. Researchers should validate target gene ablation using standard assays, as editing efficiency varies across the population.
Raji is a widely used EBV-positive Burkitt lymphoma cell line exhibiting a B-lymphoblastoid phenotype. These suspension cells constitutively produce antibodies, present antigens via MHC class II, and model adaptive immune processes. Their robust growth and well-characterized surface markers, including CD19 and CD20, make them a standard platform for B-cell immunology, lymphoma research, and studies of immune synapse function.
CTSC encodes cathepsin C, a lysosomal cysteine protease that activates granzyme A, granzyme B, cathepsin G, neutrophil elastase, and chymase by removing pro-dipeptides. Its expression is regulated by transcription factors PU.1, C/EBP, and MITF, as well as cytokines IL-3 and GM-CSF. Active granzymes, delivered by perforin, cleave caspase-3 and caspase-7 to induce apoptosis. Thus, CTSC serves as an essential upstream activator in the granzyme-mediated cell death pathway and broader immune effector proteolysis.
In Raji B cells, CTSC knockout disrupts the maturation of serine proteases that these cells can express or internalize, potentially impairing granzyme-dependent cytotoxicity and apoptotic signaling. This loss-of-function model helps elucidate cathepsin C??s role in B-cell malignancies and inflammatory diseases, including Papillon-Lef??vre syndrome, Haim-Munk syndrome, and prepubertal periodontitis, where CTSC mutations cause unchecked inflammation and immune dysregulation.
Applications include functional studies of cathepsin C in B-cell biology, drug screening for CTSC-related periodontitis, and investigation of granzyme activation in lymphoma. Common assays involve Western blotting and RT-qPCR for CTSC expression, flow cytometry for granzyme B, cytotoxicity assays, ELISA for granzyme secretion, and apoptosis detection. For technical support or ordering, please contact Ascent Research.
