Expression of active human blood clotting factor IX in transgenic mice: use of a cDNA with complete mRNA sequence

Haemophilia B is a bleeding disorder caused by a functional deficiency of the clotting factor IX. A full length human factor IX complementary DNA clone containing all the natural mRNA sequences plus some flanking intron sequences was constructed with a metallothionein promoter and introduced into transgenic mice by microinjection into the pronuclei of fertilised eggs. The transgenic mice expressed high levels of messenger RNA, gamma-carboxylated and glycosylated protein, and biological clotting activity that are indistinguishable from normal human plasma factor IX. This study demonstrates the feasibility of expressing highly complex heterologous proteins in transgenic mice. It also provides the groundwork for the production of large amounts of human factor IX in larger transgenic livestock for therapeutic use, and the investigation of alternative genetic therapies for haemophilia B.