TNF-like ligand 1A (TL1A), also known as TNF superfamily member 15 (TNFSF15), is a member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) family encoded by the TNFSF15 gene in humans. TL1A acts as a ligand for death receptor 3 (DR3) and decoy receptor 3 (DcR3), providing a stimulatory signal for downstream pathways. It regulates the proliferation, activation, and apoptosis of effector cells, as well as cytokine and chemokine production. TL1A is expressed in various immune cells, including monocytes, macrophages, dendritic cells, and T cells, as well as in non-immune cells such as synovial fibroblasts and endothelial cells. It plays a crucial role in modulating immune responses by promoting the differentiation and survival of T cells, particularly Th17 cells involved in inflammatory processes ^[1]. TL1A enhances IL-2 responses in anti-CD3/CD28-stimulated T cells and synergizes with IL-12 and IL-18 to augment IFN-γ release in human T and NK cells, biasing T cell differentiation toward a Th1 phenotype ^[2]. Dysregulation of TL1A expression is implicated in autoimmune diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) ^[1]. TL1A has emerged as a promising therapeutic target, with ongoing research focused on developing monoclonal antibodies and other biologics to neutralize TL1A and reduce inflammation in autoimmune disorders. Clinical trial results suggest that TL1A inhibition can be used in the treatment of various autoimmune diseases, particularly IBD ^[3-5].

The RAG2 gene encodes a protein that, together with the RAG1 protein, forms the RAG complex, playing a crucial role in V(D)J recombination during the maturation of B and T cells. During V(D)J recombination, the RAG complex attaches to the recombination signal sequences (RSS) located adjacent to V, D, or J segments in the DNA. The RAG complex cuts the DNA between the signal sequences and the segments, allowing the segments to separate and move to different regions of the genome. This process occurs repeatedly in B and T cells, arranging the V, D, and J segments in various combinations. The resulting protein diversity provides a broader capability to recognize foreign invaders, allowing the body to combat infections effectively. RAG2 is essential in V(D)J recombination, not only catalyzing the reaction but also regulating it by controlling access to specific loci. A lack of functional RAG2 protein can also lead to severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID). In mice, deleting the Rag2 gene results in the absence of V(D)J recombination, blocking the differentiation, development, and maturation of T and B cells, which lose their normal functions, leading to a SCID-like phenotype.

The huTL1A/Rag2-KO mouse is an immunodeficient humanized model obtained by mating huTL1A mice (catalog number: C001603) with Rag2-KO mice (catalog number: C001324). This model is suitable for studying a variety of autoimmune diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and ankylosing spondylitis (AS), providing an ideal pre-clinical research platform for the development of drugs such as anti-human TL1A antibodies.