Gene targeting strategy for B-hEBI3 mice. The exons 1-5 of mouse Ebi3 gene that encode the full-length protein were replaced by human EBI3 exons 1-5 in B-hEBI3 mice.

Strain specific analysis of EBI3 gene expression in wild-type mice and B-hEBI3 mice by RT-PCR. Mouse Ebi3 mRNA was detectable in splenocytes of wild-type mice (+/+). Human EBI3 mRNA was detectable only in homozygous B-hEBI3 mice (H/H) but not in wild-type mice. Strain specific EBI3 expression analysis in homozygous B-hEBI3 mice by western blot. Spleen, Kidney, small intestine and muscle tissue were collected from wild-type C57BL/6 mice (+/+) and homozygous B-hEBI3 mice (H/H), and analyzed by western blot with anti-EBI3 antibody. Human EBI3 was detectable in wild-type mice and homozygous B-hEBI3 mice, as the antibody is crossly reactive with EBI3 in human and mice.