The IFNAR2 Knockout Hep-G2 Cell Line is a CRISPR/Cas9-edited knockout cell line derived from the Hep-G2 human hepatocellular carcinoma parent line. This product provides targeted disruption of the IFNAR2 gene, encoding the interferon alpha/beta receptor 2 subunit essential for type I interferon signaling. The knockout cell line offers a stable loss-of-function model for investigating interferon-dependent pathways without residual receptor activity, suitable for biochemical and genomic analyses in immunology and oncology.
The Hep-G2 cell line, established from a 15-year-old male hepatocellular carcinoma patient, is a widely used model for hepatic metabolism and liver cancer research. These cells retain hepatocyte-like features, including expression of liver-specific enzymes and cytokine responsiveness, providing a relevant background for gene editing. Their endogenous interferon signaling machinery makes them especially suitable for dissecting IFNAR2 function in hepatic antiviral and inflammatory responses.
IFNAR2 heterodimerizes with IFNAR1 to form the type I interferon receptor, binding ligands IFNA and IFNB. Ligand binding activates receptor-associated kinases JAK1 and TYK2, which phosphorylate STAT1 and STAT2. Phosphorylated STATs recruit IRF9 to form the ISGF3 transcription complex, inducing expression of interferon-stimulated genes such as MX1, OAS1, and IFIT1. This pathway drives antiviral, antiproliferative, and immunomodulatory programs. Disruption of IFNAR2 blocks receptor assembly and downstream JAK-STAT signaling, creating a clean background to dissect type I interferon responses.
In Hep-G2 cells, IFNAR2-mediated signaling regulates hepatic acute-phase responses and antiviral immunity. The liver??s exposure to blood-borne pathogens and systemic cytokines makes this model highly relevant for studying viral hepatitis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and hepatic inflammation. Additionally, because Hep-G2 cells are used in drug metabolism screens, the knockout line enables exploration of how type I interferon signaling influences drug-induced liver injury or the tumor microenvironment in hepatocellular carcinoma. This model is valuable for examining crosstalk between interferon pathways and liver cancer progression.
This cell line supports interferon stimulation assays paired with phospho-STAT1 immunoblotting, ISG RT-qPCR (e.g., MX1, OAS1), and RNA-seq to map transcriptomic changes. Flow cytometry for surface IFNAR2 and co-immunoprecipitation of IFNAR1 confirm receptor loss. Applications include antiviral activity testing, JAK-STAT pathway drug screening, and cancer immunotherapy studies where type I interferon shapes tumor immunogenicity. For further technical details or validation support, please contact Ascent Research.
