Gene targeting strategy for B-hCD1D mice.
The exon 1~6 of mouse Cd1d gene that encodes the full-length protein was replaced by human CD1D exon 2~7 in B-hCD1D mice.

Strain specific analysis of CD1D gene expression in wild-type C57BL/6 mice and B-hCD1D mice by RT-PCR. Mouse Cd1d mRNA was detectable only in splenocytes of wild-type C57BL/6 mice (+/+). Human CD1D mRNA was detectable only in homozygous B-hCD1D mice (H/H), but not in wild-type mice.

Strain specific CD1D expression analysis in homozygous B-hCD1D mice by flow cytometry. Splenocytes were collected from wild-type C57BL/6 mice (+/+) and homozygous B-hCD1D mice (H/H), and analyzed by flow cytometry with species-specific anti-CD1D antibody. Mouse CD1D was detectable in wild-type mice. Human CD1D was exclusively detectable in homozygous B-hCD1D but not in wild-type mice.