CD52 Deletion Alters Hepatic Gene Expression in a Sex-Independent Manner in Mice
The liver is a dynamic and heterogeneous organ, tightly regulated by complex physiological processes. Extensive research has shown that gene expression plays a crucial role in modulating liver function. Recent studies have reported a positive correlation between CD52 expression and the degree of liver fibrosis, suggesting its potential involvement in fibrotic processes. However, the role of CD52 in the liver remains unclear. In this study, we generated CD52-knockout mice using CRISPR/Cas9 technology and performed histological and transcriptomic analyses to investigate the role of the CD52 gene in liver biology. Our findings reveal that CD52 deletion had similar effects on both male and female liver tissues. Histological analysis showed that CD52 knockout did not induce liver damage or lipid accumulation. Transcriptomic analysis further demonstrated that CD52 deletion led to the downregulation of genes involved in cellular activities, particularly those associated with the cytoskeleton, motor proteins, myofibril assembly, and myosin function. High-throughput mRNA sequencing was carried out using the BGI DNBSEQ-T7 platform.