The 129 genetic background affects susceptibility to glomerulosclerosis in tensin2-deficient mice

The ICGN mouse strain is a glomerulosclerosis (GS) model that shows significant proteinuria, podocyte morphological abnormalities and increased extracellular matrix accumulation in the glomeruli, which represent the final common pathology associated with a variety of kidney diseases leading to end-stage renal failure. Previously, we demonstrated that GS in ICGN mice can be attributed to the deletion mutation of the tensin2 (Tns2) gene (Tns2(nep)). Further, the C57BL/6J (B6) mouse is resistant to GS caused by this mutation. 129/Sv is also a popular strain; however, its susceptibility to GS has not been defined. Thus, to determine whether 129/Sv is resistant or susceptible to GS, we produced a congenic strain carrying Tns2(nep) on the 129(+Ter)/Sv (129T) background. 129T congenic mice (129T-Tns2(nep)) did not exhibit albuminuria, renal anemia, increases in BUN, or any severe pathological changes until at least 16 weeks of age. These results indicate that 129T is resistant to GS. Although their usage in biomedical studies is already widespread, 129/Sv mice may afford a late-onset and unique strain applicable to kidney disease research.