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Lin Y, Jiang W, Ng J, Jina A, Wang RA. Endothelial ephrin-B2 is essential for arterial vasodilation in mice. Microcirculation 2015; 21:578-86. [PMID: 24673722 DOI: 10.1111/micc.12135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2014] [Accepted: 03/24/2014] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The cell surface protein ephrin-B2 is expressed in arterial and not venous ECs throughout development and adulthood. Endothelial ephrin-B2 is required for vascular development and angiogenesis, but its role in established arteries is currently unknown. We investigated the physiological role of ephrin-B2 signaling in adult endothelium. METHODS We generated adult conditional knockout mice lacking the Efnb2 gene specifically in ECs and evaluated the vasodilation responses to blood flow increase and ACh in the cremaster muscle preparation by intravital microscope and in carotid artery by in vivo ultrasound. RESULTS We found that the Efnb2 conditional knockout mice were defective in acute arterial dilation. Vasodilation was impaired in cremaster arterioles in response to either increased flow or ACh, and in the carotid arteries in response to increased flow. Levels of cGMP, an effector of NO, were diminished in mutant arteries following ACh stimulation. GSNO, a donor for the vasodilator NO, alleviated the vasodilatory defects in the mutants. Immunostaining showed that a subset of ephrin-B2 proteins colocalized with caveolin-1, a negative regulator of eNOS. CONCLUSIONS Our data suggest that endothelial ephrin-B2 is required for endothelial-dependent arterial dilation and NO signaling in adult endothelium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuankai Lin
- Laboratory for Accelerated Vascular Research, Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
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52
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Carofino BL, Justice MJ. Tissue-Specific Regulation of Oncogene Expression Using Cre-Inducible ROSA26 Knock-In Transgenic Mice. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015; 5:187-204. [PMID: 26069083 DOI: 10.1002/9780470942390.mo140150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Cre-inducible mouse models are often utilized for the spatial and temporal expression of oncogenes. With the wide number of Cre recombinase lines available, inducible transgenesis represents a tractable approach to achieve discrete oncogene expression. Here, we describe a protocol for targeting Cre-inducible genes to the ubiquitously expressed ROSA26 locus. Gene targeting provides several advantages over standard transgenic techniques, including a known site of integration and previously characterized pattern of expression. Historically, an inherent instability of ROSA26 targeting vectors has hampered the efficiency of developing ROSA26 knock-in lines. In this protocol, we provide individual steps for utilizing Gateway recombination for cloning as well as detailed instructions for screening targeted ES cell clones. By following this protocol, one can achieve germline transmission of a ROSA26 knock-in line within several months.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandi L Carofino
- Interdepartmental Program in Translational Biology and Molecular Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.,Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Monica J Justice
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.,Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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53
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Prabhakar S, Zhang X, Goto J, Han S, Lai C, Bronson R, Sena-Esteves M, Ramesh V, Stemmer-Rachamimov A, Kwiatkowski DJ, Breakefield XO. Survival benefit and phenotypic improvement by hamartin gene therapy in a tuberous sclerosis mouse brain model. Neurobiol Dis 2015; 82:22-31. [PMID: 26019056 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2015.04.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2014] [Revised: 04/06/2015] [Accepted: 04/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
We examined the potential benefit of gene therapy in a mouse model of tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) in which there is embryonic loss of Tsc1 (hamartin) in brain neurons. An adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector (serotype rh8) expressing a tagged form of hamartin was injected into the cerebral ventricles of newborn pups with the genotype Tsc1(cc) (homozygous for a conditional floxed Tsc1 allele) SynI-cre(+), in which Tsc1 is lost selectively in neurons starting at embryonic day 12. Vector-treated Tsc1(cc)SynIcre(+) mice showed a marked improvement in survival from a mean of 22 days in non-injected mice to 52 days in AAV hamartin vector-injected mice, with improved weight gain and motor behavior in the latter. Pathologic studies showed normalization of neuron size and a decrease in markers of mTOR activation in treated as compared to untreated mutant littermates. Hence, we show that gene replacement in the brain is an effective therapeutic approach in this mouse model of TSC1. Our strategy for gene therapy has the advantages that therapy can be achieved from a single application, as compared to repeated treatment with drugs, and that AAV vectors have been found to have minimal to no toxicity in clinical trials for other neurologic conditions. Although there are many additional issues to be addressed, our studies support gene therapy as a useful approach in TSC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shilpa Prabhakar
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Department of Neurology and Center for Molecular Imaging Research, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Program in Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Xuan Zhang
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Department of Neurology and Center for Molecular Imaging Research, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Program in Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - June Goto
- Translational Medicine Division, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sangyeul Han
- Center for Human Genetic Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Charles Lai
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Department of Neurology and Center for Molecular Imaging Research, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Program in Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Roderick Bronson
- Rodent Histopathology Core Facility, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Miguel Sena-Esteves
- Neurology Department, Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Vijaya Ramesh
- Center for Human Genetic Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - David J Kwiatkowski
- Translational Medicine Division, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Xandra O Breakefield
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Department of Neurology and Center for Molecular Imaging Research, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Program in Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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Maraver A, Fernandez-Marcos PJ, Cash TP, Mendez-Pertuz M, Dueñas M, Maietta P, Martinelli P, Muñoz-Martin M, Martínez-Fernández M, Cañamero M, Roncador G, Martinez-Torrecuadrada JL, Grivas D, de la Pompa JL, Valencia A, Paramio JM, Real FX, Serrano M. NOTCH pathway inactivation promotes bladder cancer progression. J Clin Invest 2015; 125:824-30. [PMID: 25574842 DOI: 10.1172/jci78185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2014] [Accepted: 12/04/2014] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
NOTCH signaling suppresses tumor growth and proliferation in several types of stratified epithelia. Here, we show that missense mutations in NOTCH1 and NOTCH2 found in human bladder cancers result in loss of function. In murine models, genetic ablation of the NOTCH pathway accelerated bladder tumorigenesis and promoted the formation of squamous cell carcinomas, with areas of mesenchymal features. Using bladder cancer cells, we determined that the NOTCH pathway stabilizes the epithelial phenotype through its effector HES1 and, consequently, loss of NOTCH activity favors the process of epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Evaluation of human bladder cancer samples revealed that tumors with low levels of HES1 present mesenchymal features and are more aggressive. Together, our results indicate that NOTCH serves as a tumor suppressor in the bladder and that loss of this pathway promotes mesenchymal and invasive features.
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55
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Goodwin ML, Jin H, Straessler K, Smith-Fry K, Zhu JF, Monument MJ, Grossmann A, Randall RL, Capecchi MR, Jones KB. Modeling alveolar soft part sarcomagenesis in the mouse: a role for lactate in the tumor microenvironment. Cancer Cell 2014; 26:851-862. [PMID: 25453902 PMCID: PMC4327935 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2014.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2014] [Revised: 05/08/2014] [Accepted: 10/03/2014] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Alveolar soft part sarcoma (ASPS), a deadly soft tissue malignancy with a predilection for adolescents and young adults, associates consistently with t(X;17) translocations that generate the fusion gene ASPSCR1-TFE3. We proved the oncogenic capacity of this fusion gene by driving sarcomagenesis in mice from conditional ASPSCR1-TFE3 expression. The completely penetrant tumors were indistinguishable from human ASPS by histology and gene expression. They formed preferentially in the anatomic environment highest in lactate, the cranial vault, expressed high levels of lactate importers, harbored abundant mitochondria, metabolized lactate as a metabolic substrate, and responded to the administration of exogenous lactate with tumor cell proliferation and angiogenesis. These data demonstrate lactate's role as a driver of alveolar soft part sarcomagenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew L Goodwin
- Department of Orthopaedics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Huifeng Jin
- Department of Orthopaedics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA; Center for Children's Cancer Research at the Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Krystal Straessler
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Kyllie Smith-Fry
- Department of Orthopaedics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA; Center for Children's Cancer Research at the Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Ju-Fen Zhu
- Department of Orthopaedics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA; Center for Children's Cancer Research at the Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Michael J Monument
- Department of Orthopaedics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA; Center for Children's Cancer Research at the Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Allie Grossmann
- Department of Pathology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - R Lor Randall
- Department of Orthopaedics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA; Center for Children's Cancer Research at the Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Mario R Capecchi
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA; Department of Human Genetics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Kevin B Jones
- Department of Orthopaedics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA; Center for Children's Cancer Research at the Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA.
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Tu J, Henneicke H, Zhang Y, Stoner S, Cheng TL, Schindeler A, Chen D, Tuckermann J, Cooper MS, Seibel MJ, Zhou H. Disruption of glucocorticoid signaling in chondrocytes delays metaphyseal fracture healing but does not affect normal cartilage and bone development. Bone 2014; 69:12-22. [PMID: 25193158 PMCID: PMC4284102 DOI: 10.1016/j.bone.2014.08.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2014] [Revised: 08/18/2014] [Accepted: 08/23/2014] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
States of glucocorticoid excess are associated with defects in chondrocyte function. Most prominently there is a reduction in linear growth but delayed healing of fractures that require endochondral ossification to also occur. In contrast, little is known about the role of endogenous glucocorticoids in chondrocyte function. As glucocorticoids exert their cellular actions through the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), we aimed to elucidate the role of endogenous glucocorticoids in chondrocyte function in vivo through characterization of tamoxifen-inducible chondrocyte-specific GR knockout (chGRKO) mice in which the GR was deleted at various post-natal ages. Knee joint architecture, cartilage structure, growth plates, intervertebral discs, long bone length and bone micro-architecture were similar in chGRKO and control mice at all ages. Analysis of fracture healing in chGRKO and control mice demonstrated that in metaphyseal fractures, chGRKO mice formed a larger cartilaginous callus at 1 and 2 week post-surgery, as well as a smaller amount of well-mineralized bony callus at the fracture site 4 week post-surgery, when compared to control mice. In contrast, chondrocyte-specific GR knockout did not affect diaphyseal fracture healing. We conclude that endogenous GC signaling in chondrocytes plays an important role during metaphyseal fracture healing but is not essential for normal long bone growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinwen Tu
- Bone Research Program, ANZAC Research Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Holger Henneicke
- Bone Research Program, ANZAC Research Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Yaqing Zhang
- Bone Research Program, ANZAC Research Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Shihani Stoner
- Bone Research Program, ANZAC Research Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Tegan L Cheng
- Orthopaedic Research & Biotechnology Unit, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, Australia
| | - Aaron Schindeler
- Orthopaedic Research & Biotechnology Unit, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, Australia
| | - Di Chen
- Tissue Department of Biochemistry, Rush University Medical Center, USA
| | - Jan Tuckermann
- Institute of General Zoology and Endocrinology, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Mark S Cooper
- Department of Endocrinology & Metabolism, Concord Hospital, Sydney, Australia
| | - Markus J Seibel
- Bone Research Program, ANZAC Research Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia; Department of Endocrinology & Metabolism, Concord Hospital, Sydney, Australia
| | - Hong Zhou
- Bone Research Program, ANZAC Research Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
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Bifunctional ectodermal stem cells around the nail display dual fate homeostasis and adaptive wounding response toward nail regeneration. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2014; 111:15114-9. [PMID: 25277970 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1318848111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Regulation of adult stem cells (SCs) is fundamental for organ maintenance and tissue regeneration. On the body surface, different ectodermal organs exhibit distinctive modes of regeneration and the dynamics of their SC homeostasis remain to be unraveled. A slow cycling characteristic has been used to identify SCs in hair follicles and sweat glands; however, whether a quiescent population exists in continuously growing nails remains unknown. Using an in vivo label retaining cells (LRCs) system, we detected an unreported population of quiescent cells within the basal layer of the nail proximal fold, organized in a ring-like configuration around the nail root. These nail LRCs express the hair stem cell marker, keratin 15 (K15), and lineage tracing show that these K15-derived cells can contribute to both the nail structure and peri-nail epidermis, and more toward the latter. Thus, this stem cell population is bifunctional. Upon nail plucking injury, the homeostasis is tilted with these SCs dominantly delivering progeny to the nail matrix and differentiated nail plate, demonstrating their plasticity to adapt to wounding stimuli. Moreover, in vivo engraftment experiments established that transplanted nail LRCs can actively participate in functional nail regeneration. Transcriptional profiling of isolated nail LRCs revealed bone morphogenetic protein signaling favors nail differentiation over epidermal fate. Taken together, we have found a previously unidentified ring-configured population of bifunctional SCs, located at the interface between the nail appendage organ and adjacent epidermis, which physiologically display coordinated homeostatic dynamics but are capable of rediverting stem cell flow in response to injury.
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58
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Lepperhof V, Polchynski O, Kruttwig K, Brüggemann C, Neef K, Drey F, Zheng Y, Ackermann JP, Choi YH, Wunderlich TF, Hoehn M, Hescheler J, Šarić T. Bioluminescent imaging of genetically selected induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes after transplantation into infarcted heart of syngeneic recipients. PLoS One 2014; 9:e107363. [PMID: 25226590 PMCID: PMC4167328 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0107363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2013] [Accepted: 08/15/2014] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Cell loss after transplantation is a major limitation for cell replacement approaches in regenerative medicine. To assess the survival kinetics of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cardiomyocytes (CM) we generated transgenic murine iPSC lines which, in addition to CM-specific expression of puromycin N-acetyl-transferase and enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP), also constitutively express firefly luciferase (FLuc) for bioluminescence (BL) in vivo imaging. While undifferentiated iPSC lines generated by random integration of the transgene into the genome retained stable FLuc activity over many passages, the BL signal intensity was strongly decreased in purified iPS-CM compared to undifferentiated iPSC. Targeted integration of FLuc-expression cassette into the ROSA26 genomic locus using zinc finger nuclease (ZFN) technology strongly reduced transgene silencing in iPS-CM, leading to a several-fold higher BL compared to iPS-CM expressing FLuc from random genomic loci. To investigate the survival kinetics of iPS-CM in vivo, purified CM obtained from iPSC lines expressing FLuc from a random or the ROSA26 locus were transplanted into cryoinfarcted hearts of syngeneic mice. Engraftment of viable cells was monitored by BL imaging over 4 weeks. Transplanted iPS-CM were poorly retained in the myocardium independently of the cell line used. However, up to 8% of cells survived for 28 days at the site of injection, which was confirmed by immunohistological detection of EGFP-positive iPS-CM in the host tissue. Transplantation of iPS-CM did not affect the scar formation or capillary density in the periinfarct region of host myocardium. This report is the first to determine the survival kinetics of drug-selected iPS-CM in the infarcted heart using BL imaging and demonstrates that transgene silencing in the course of iPSC differentiation can be greatly reduced by employing genome editing technology. FLuc-expressing iPS-CM generated in this study will enable further studies to reduce their loss, increase long-term survival and functional integration upon transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vera Lepperhof
- Institute for Neurophysiology, Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Olga Polchynski
- Institute for Neurophysiology, Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Klaus Kruttwig
- In-vivo-NMR Laboratory, Max Planck Institute for Neurological Research, Cologne, Germany
| | - Chantal Brüggemann
- In-vivo-NMR Laboratory, Max Planck Institute for Neurological Research, Cologne, Germany
| | - Klaus Neef
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Heart Center of the University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Florian Drey
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Heart Center of the University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Yunjie Zheng
- Institute for Neurophysiology, Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Justus P. Ackermann
- Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research and Institute for Genetics, Cologne, Germany
| | - Yeong-Hoon Choi
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Heart Center of the University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Thomas F. Wunderlich
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research and Institute for Genetics, Cologne, Germany
- Cologne Cluster of Excellence in Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), Cologne, Germany
| | - Mathias Hoehn
- In-vivo-NMR Laboratory, Max Planck Institute for Neurological Research, Cologne, Germany
| | - Jürgen Hescheler
- Institute for Neurophysiology, Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Tomo Šarić
- Institute for Neurophysiology, Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- * E-mail:
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Hsu YC, Li L, Fuchs E. Transit-amplifying cells orchestrate stem cell activity and tissue regeneration. Cell 2014; 157:935-49. [PMID: 24813615 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2014.02.057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 254] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2013] [Revised: 01/16/2014] [Accepted: 02/24/2014] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Transit-amplifying cells (TACs) are an early intermediate in tissue regeneration. Here, using hair follicles (HFs) as a paradigm, we show that emerging TACs constitute a signaling center that orchestrates tissue growth. Whereas primed stem cells (SCs) generate TACs, quiescent SCs only proliferate after TACs form and begin expressing Sonic Hedgehog (SHH). TAC generation is independent of autocrine SHH, but the TAC pool wanes if they can't produce SHH. We trace this paradox to two direct actions of SHH: promoting quiescent-SC proliferation and regulating dermal factors that stoke TAC expansion. Ingrained within quiescent SCs' special sensitivity to SHH signaling is their high expression of GAS1. Without sufficient input from quiescent SCs, replenishment of primed SCs for the next hair cycle is compromised, delaying regeneration and eventually leading to regeneration failure. Our findings unveil TACs as transient but indispensable integrators of SC niche components and reveal an intriguing interdependency of primed and quiescent SC populations on tissue regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya-Chieh Hsu
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Laboratory of Mammalian Cell Biology and Development, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Lishi Li
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Laboratory of Mammalian Cell Biology and Development, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Elaine Fuchs
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Laboratory of Mammalian Cell Biology and Development, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA.
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Comparative analysis of the efficiency and specificity of myeloid-Cre deleting strains using ROSA-EYFP reporter mice. J Immunol Methods 2014; 408:89-100. [PMID: 24857755 DOI: 10.1016/j.jim.2014.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 359] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2014] [Revised: 05/06/2014] [Accepted: 05/07/2014] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Since the first example of conditional gene targeting in mice in 1994, the use of Cre recombinase and loxP flanked sequences has become an invaluable technique to generate tissue and temporal specific gene knockouts. The number of mouse strains expressing floxed-gene sequences, and tissue-specific or temporal-specific Cre-recombinase that have been reported in the literature has grown exponentially. However, increased use of this technology has highlighted several problems that can impact the interpretation of any phenotype observed in these mouse models. In particular, accurate knowledge of the specificity of Cre expression in each strain is critical in order to make conclusions about the role of specific cell types in the phenotypes observed. Cre-mediated deletion specificity and efficiency have been described in many different ways in the literature, making direct comparisons between these Cre strains impossible. Here we report crossing thirteen different myeloid-Cre mouse strains to ROSA-EYFP reporter mice and assaying YFP expression in a variety of naïve unstimulated hematopoietic cells, in parallel. By focusing on myeloid subsets, we directly compare the relative efficiency and specificity of myeloid deletion in these strains under steady-state conditions.
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61
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Nakajima M, Nishikawa C, Miyasaka Y, Kikkawa Y, Mori H, Tsuruta M, Okuyama S, Furukawa Y. Dilation of the inferior colliculus and hypersensitivity to sound in Wnt1-cre and Wnt1-GAL4 double-transgenic mice. Neurosci Lett 2014; 566:236-40. [PMID: 24607930 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2014.02.061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2013] [Revised: 02/21/2014] [Accepted: 02/26/2014] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The processing of sound information is mediated by the cochlea and the central auditory system. Among the central auditory system, the inferior colliculus (IC) has leading roles in the acoustic processing. In a previous study, we demonstrated psychiatric disorder-related behavioral abnormalities in a genetically modified animal of Wnt1-cre and Wnt1-GAL4 double-transgenic (dTg) mouse. Here we report an abnormal morphology of the IC and dysacusis in the dTg mice. The IC in the brain of the dTg mice is dilated in appearance and histologic analysis revealed a high cell-density in the IC. Also, the dTg mice showed high scores in a startle response test using a click box that emits a 20-kHz sound. Auditory brainstem response (ABR) test revealed lower ABR thresholds of the dTg mice at a test-stimulus frequency of 32kHz, but not at 4-16kHz. These findings suggest that the dTg mice could be a useful animal model for studying the physiologic function of the IC and the pathophysiology of psychiatric disorder-related dysacusis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mitsunari Nakajima
- Department of Pharmaceutical Pharmacology, School of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Matsuyama University, 4-2 Bunkyo-cho, Matsuyama 790-8578, Ehime, Japan.
| | - Chisa Nishikawa
- Department of Pharmaceutical Pharmacology, School of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Matsuyama University, 4-2 Bunkyo-cho, Matsuyama 790-8578, Ehime, Japan
| | - Yuki Miyasaka
- Mammalian Genetics Project, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, 2-1-6 Kamikitazawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 156-8506, Japan; Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata University, 1-757 Asahimachi, Niigata 951-8510, Japan
| | - Yoshiaki Kikkawa
- Mammalian Genetics Project, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, 2-1-6 Kamikitazawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 156-8506, Japan
| | - Hisamichi Mori
- Department of Pharmaceutical Pharmacology, School of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Matsuyama University, 4-2 Bunkyo-cho, Matsuyama 790-8578, Ehime, Japan
| | - Momoko Tsuruta
- Department of Pharmaceutical Pharmacology, School of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Matsuyama University, 4-2 Bunkyo-cho, Matsuyama 790-8578, Ehime, Japan
| | - Satoshi Okuyama
- Department of Pharmaceutical Pharmacology, School of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Matsuyama University, 4-2 Bunkyo-cho, Matsuyama 790-8578, Ehime, Japan
| | - Yoshiko Furukawa
- Department of Pharmaceutical Pharmacology, School of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Matsuyama University, 4-2 Bunkyo-cho, Matsuyama 790-8578, Ehime, Japan
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Sharma S, Zhu J. Immunologic applications of conditional gene modification technology in the mouse. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014; 105:10.34.1-10.34.13. [PMID: 24700321 DOI: 10.1002/0471142735.im1034s105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Since the success of homologous recombination in altering mouse genome and the discovery of Cre-loxP system, the combination of these two breakthroughs has created important applications for studying the immune system in the mouse. Here, we briefly summarize the general principles of this technology and its applications in studying immune cell development and responses; such implications include conditional gene knockout and inducible and/or tissue-specific gene over-expression, as well as lineage fate mapping. We then discuss the pros and cons of a few commonly used Cre-expressing mouse lines for studying lymphocyte development and functions. We also raise several general issues, such as efficiency of gene deletion, leaky activity of Cre, and Cre toxicity, all of which may have profound impacts on data interpretation. Finally, we selectively list some useful links to the Web sites as valuable mouse resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suveena Sharma
- Molecular and Cellular Immunoregulation Unit, Laboratory of Immunology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Jinfang Zhu
- Molecular and Cellular Immunoregulation Unit, Laboratory of Immunology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
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Ströh S, Sonntag S, Janssen-Bienhold U, Schultz K, Cimiotti K, Weiler R, Willecke K, Dedek K. Cell-specific cre recombinase expression allows selective ablation of glutamate receptors from mouse horizontal cells. PLoS One 2013; 8:e83076. [PMID: 24349437 PMCID: PMC3861464 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0083076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2013] [Accepted: 11/06/2013] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
In the mouse retina, horizontal cells form an electrically coupled network and provide feedback signals to photoreceptors and feedforward signals to bipolar cells. Thereby, horizontal cells contribute to gain control at the first visual synapse and to the antagonistic organization of bipolar and ganglion cell receptive fields. However, the nature of horizontal cell output remains a matter of debate, just as the exact contribution of horizontal cells to center-surround antagonism. To facilitate studying horizontal cell function, we developed a knockin mouse line which allows ablating genes exclusively in horizontal cells. This knockin line expresses a Cre recombinase under the promoter of connexin57 (Cx57), a gap junction protein only expressed in horizontal cells. Consistently, in Cx57+/Cre mice, Cre recombinase is expressed in almost all horizontal cells (>99%) and no other retinal neurons. To test Cre activity, we crossbred Cx57+/Cre mice with a mouse line in which exon 11 of the coding sequence for the ionotropic glutamate receptor subunit GluA4 was flanked by two loxP sites (GluA4fl/fl). In GluA4fl/fl:Cx57+/Cre mice, GluA4 immunoreactivity was significantly reduced (∼50%) in the outer retina where horizontal cells receive photoreceptor inputs, confirming the functionality of the Cre/loxP system. Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings from isolated horizontal cell somata showed a reduction of glutamate-induced inward currents by ∼75%, suggesting that the GluA4 subunit plays a major role in mediating photoreceptor inputs. The persistent current in GluA4-deficient cells is mostly driven by AMPA and to a very small extent by kainate receptors as revealed by application of the AMPA receptor antagonist GYKI52466 and concanavalin A, a potentiator of kainate receptor-mediated currents. In summary, the Cx57+/Cre mouse line provides a versatile tool for studying horizontal cell function. GluA4fl/fl:Cx57+/Cre mice, in which horizontal cells receive less excitatory input, can thus be used to analyze the contribution of horizontal cells to retinal processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Ströh
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Stephan Sonntag
- Life and Medical Sciences Institute, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Ulrike Janssen-Bienhold
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
- Research Center Neurosensory Science, University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Konrad Schultz
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Kerstin Cimiotti
- Life and Medical Sciences Institute, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Reto Weiler
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
- Research Center Neurosensory Science, University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Klaus Willecke
- Life and Medical Sciences Institute, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Karin Dedek
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
- Research Center Neurosensory Science, University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
- * E-mail:
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Joseph C, Quach JM, Walkley CR, Lane SW, Lo Celso C, Purton LE. Deciphering hematopoietic stem cells in their niches: a critical appraisal of genetic models, lineage tracing, and imaging strategies. Cell Stem Cell 2013; 13:520-33. [PMID: 24209759 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2013.10.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 134] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, technical developments in mouse genetics and imaging equipment have substantially advanced our understanding of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and their niche. The availability of numerous Cre strains for targeting HSCs and microenvironmental cells provides extensive flexibility in experimental design, but it can also pose significant challenges due to strain-specific differences in cell specificity. Here we outline various genetic approaches for isolating, detecting, and ablating HSCs and niche components and provide a guide for advantages and caveats to consider. We also discuss opportunities and limitations presented by imaging technologies that allow investigation of HSC behavior in situ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chacko Joseph
- Stem Cell Regulation Unit, St. Vincent's Institute of Medical Research, 9 Princes Street, Fitzroy, VIC, 3065, Australia; Department of Medicine at St. Vincent's Hospital, The University of Melbourne, Fitzroy, VIC, 3065, Australia
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Zemva J, Udelhoven M, Moll L, Freude S, Stöhr O, Brönneke HS, Drake RB, Krone W, Schubert M. Neuronal overexpression of insulin receptor substrate 2 leads to increased fat mass, insulin resistance, and glucose intolerance during aging. AGE (DORDRECHT, NETHERLANDS) 2013; 35:1881-1897. [PMID: 23160735 PMCID: PMC3776092 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-012-9491-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2012] [Accepted: 11/05/2012] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
The insulin receptor substrates (IRS) are adapter proteins mediating insulin's and IGF1's intracellular effects. Recent data suggest that IRS2 in the central nervous system (CNS) is involved in regulating fuel metabolism as well as memory formation. The present study aims to specifically define the role of chronically increased IRS2-mediated signal transduction in the CNS. We generated transgenic mice overexpressing IRS2 specifically in neurons (nIRS2 (tg)) and analyzed these in respect to energy metabolism, learning, and memory. Western blot (WB) analysis of nIRS2 (tg) brain lysates revealed increased IRS2 downstream signaling. Histopathological investigation of nIRS2 (tg) mice proved unaltered brain development and structure. Interestingly, nIRS2 (tg) mice showed decreased voluntary locomotoric activity during dark phase accompanied with decreased energy expenditure (EE) leading to increased fat mass. Accordingly, nIRS2 (tg) mice develop insulin resistance and glucose intolerance during aging. Exploratory behavior, motor function as well as food and water intake were unchanged in nIRS2 (tg) mice. Surprisingly, increased IRS2-mediated signals did not change spatial working memory in the T-maze task. Since FoxO1 is a key mediator of IRS2-transmitted signals, we additionally generated mice expressing a dominant negative mutant of FoxO1 (FoxO1DN) specifically in neurons. This mutant mimics the effect of increased IRS2 signaling on FoxO-mediated transcription. Interestingly, the phenotype observed in nIRS2 (tg) mice was not present in FoxO1DN mice. Therefore, increased neuronal IRS2 signaling causes decreased locomotoric activity in the presence of unaltered exploratory behavior and motor coordination that might lead to increased fat mass, insulin resistance, and glucose intolerance during aging independent of FoxO1-mediated transcription.
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Affiliation(s)
- J. Zemva
- />Center for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Preventive Medicine (CEDP), University of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50937 Cologne, Germany
- />Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, Robert-Koch-Str. 21, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - M. Udelhoven
- />Center for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Preventive Medicine (CEDP), University of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50937 Cologne, Germany
- />Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, Robert-Koch-Str. 21, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - L. Moll
- />Center for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Preventive Medicine (CEDP), University of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50937 Cologne, Germany
- />Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, Robert-Koch-Str. 21, 50931 Cologne, Germany
- />Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute for Molecular Research Israel—Canada (IMRIC), School of Medicine of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 91120 Israel
| | - S. Freude
- />Center for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Preventive Medicine (CEDP), University of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50937 Cologne, Germany
- />Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, Robert-Koch-Str. 21, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - O. Stöhr
- />Center for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Preventive Medicine (CEDP), University of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50937 Cologne, Germany
- />Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, Robert-Koch-Str. 21, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - H. S. Brönneke
- />Cologne Cluster of Excellence in Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - R. B. Drake
- />Center for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Preventive Medicine (CEDP), University of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50937 Cologne, Germany
- />Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, Robert-Koch-Str. 21, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - W. Krone
- />Center for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Preventive Medicine (CEDP), University of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50937 Cologne, Germany
- />Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, Robert-Koch-Str. 21, 50931 Cologne, Germany
- />Cologne Cluster of Excellence in Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - M. Schubert
- />Center for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Preventive Medicine (CEDP), University of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50937 Cologne, Germany
- />Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, Robert-Koch-Str. 21, 50931 Cologne, Germany
- />Cologne Cluster of Excellence in Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
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Liao GY, Li Y, Xu B. Ablation of TrkB expression in RGS9-2 cells leads to hyperphagic obesity. Mol Metab 2013; 2:491-7. [PMID: 24327964 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmet.2013.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2013] [Revised: 07/31/2013] [Accepted: 08/03/2013] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its cognate receptor, TrkB (tropomyosin receptor kinase B), are widely expressed in the brain where they regulate a wide variety of biological processes, including energy homeostasis. However, the specific population(s) of TrkB-expressing neurons through which BDNF governs energy homeostasis remain(s) to be determined. Using the Cre-loxP recombination system, we deleted the mouse TrkB gene in RGS9-2-expressing cells. In this mouse mutant, TrkB expression was abolished in several hypothalamic nuclei, including arcuate nucleus, dorsomedial hypothalamus, and lateral hypothalamus. TrkB expression was also abolished in a small number of cells in other brain regions, including the cerebral cortex and striatum. The mutant animals developed hyperphagic obesity with normal energy expenditure. Despite hyperglycemia under fed conditions, these animals exhibited normal fasting blood glucose levels and normal glucose tolerance. These results suggest that BDNF regulates energy homeostasis in part through TrkB-expressing neurons in the hypothalamus.
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Key Words
- 3V, third ventricle
- ARC, arcuate nucleus
- BDNF
- BS, brainstem
- Cb, cerebellum
- Ctx, cerebral cortex
- DMH, dorsomedial hypothalamus
- Hp, hippocampus
- Hy, hypothalamus
- Hyperphagia
- Hypothalamus
- LH, lateral hypothalamus
- NTS, nucleus of the solitary tract
- Obesity
- PMV, ventral premammillary nucleus
- PVH, paraventricular hypothalamus
- Rgs9-Cre
- SN, substantia nigra
- Stm, striatum
- TrkB
- Tu, olfactory tubercle
- VMH, ventromedial hypothalamus
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Affiliation(s)
- Guey-Ying Liao
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20057, USA ; Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute Florida, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
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Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is critical for developed countries, where its rate of diagnosis has been increasing steadily annually. In the past decade, the advances of pancreatic cancer research have not contributed to the decline in mortality rates from pancreatic cancer-the overall 5-year survival rate remains about 5% low. This number only underscores an obvious urgency for us to better understand the biological features of pancreatic carcinogenesis, to develop early detection methods, and to improve novel therapeutic treatments. To achieve these goals, animal modeling that faithfully recapitulates the whole process of human pancreatic cancer is central to making the advancements. In this review, we summarize the currently available animal models for pancreatic cancer and the advances in pancreatic cancer animal modeling. We compare and contrast the advantages and disadvantages of three major categories of these models: (1) carcinogen-induced; (2) xenograft and allograft; and (3) genetically engineered mouse models. We focus more on the genetically engineered mouse models, a category which has been rapidly expanded recently for their capacities to mimic human pancreatic cancer and metastasis, and highlight the combinations of these models with various newly developed strategies and cell-lineage labeling systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanglong Qiu
- Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Columbia University Medical Center, 1130 St. Nicholas Ave, ICRC 10-04, New York, NY 10032, USA
- Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Gloria H. Su
- Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Columbia University Medical Center, 1130 St. Nicholas Ave, ICRC 10-04, New York, NY 10032, USA
- Department of Pathology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
- Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
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Erbs E, Pradhan AA, Matifas A, Kieffer BL, Massotte D. Evaluation of cre recombinase delivery in mammalian cells using baculovirus infection. J Biotechnol 2013; 166:182-6. [PMID: 23732834 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2013.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2013] [Revised: 05/16/2013] [Accepted: 05/23/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
In vivo conditional knock-out of a protein is a method of choice to decipher its biological function. It can be achieved by encoding the cre-recombinase on a recombinant virus to exert spatio-temporal control of its expression and enzymatic activity and, subsequently, of the target gene deletion. Recombinant baculoviruses have been successfully used to express a wide range of proteins in insect cells. More recently, their potential to infect mammalian cells has been addressed but, so far, their ability to yield a conditional knock-out as a result of efficient in vivo cre-recombinase gene delivery has not been examined. Cre-recombinase fused to the green fluorescent protein was cloned under the control of the CAG promoter in a recombinant Autographa californica baculovirus expressing the vesicular stomatitis virus envelope G protein for increased mammalian cell infection. Gene delivery was evaluated in vitro in mammalian cells, neuroblastoma and mouse primary neuronal cultures as well as in vivo in the mouse brain. Infection with adeno-associated viruses encoding the cre-recombinase fused to the green fluorescent protein was performed as a positive control. Our results indicate that baculovirus infection leads to functional cre-recombinase expression in non-neuronal and neuroblastoma cell lines but not in mouse primary neuronal cultures or brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Erbs
- Department of Neurobiology and Translational Medicine, IGBMC, Illkirch, France.
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Prabhakar S, Goto J, Zuang X, Sena-Esteves M, Bronson R, Brockmann J, Gianni D, Wojtkiewicz GR, Chen JW, Stemmer-Rachamimov A, Kwiatkowski DJ, Breakefield XO. Stochastic model of Tsc1 lesions in mouse brain. PLoS One 2013; 8:e64224. [PMID: 23696872 PMCID: PMC3655945 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0064224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2013] [Accepted: 04/10/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is an autosomal dominant disorder due to mutations in either TSC1 or TSC2 that affects many organs with hamartomas and tumors. TSC-associated brain lesions include subependymal nodules, subependymal giant cell astrocytomas and tubers. Neurologic manifestations in TSC comprise a high frequency of mental retardation and developmental disorders including autism, as well as epilepsy. Here, we describe a new mouse model of TSC brain lesions in which complete loss of Tsc1 is achieved in multiple brain cell types in a stochastic pattern. Injection of an adeno-associated virus vector encoding Cre recombinase into the cerebral ventricles of mice homozygous for a Tsc1 conditional allele on the day of birth led to reduced survival, and pathologic findings of enlarged neurons, cortical heterotopias, subependymal nodules, and hydrocephalus. The severity of clinical and pathologic findings as well as survival was shown to be dependent upon the dose and serotype of Cre virus injected. Although several other models of TSC brain disease exist, this model is unique in that the pathology reflects a variety of TSC-associated lesions involving different numbers and types of cells. This model provides a valuable and unique addition for therapeutic assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shilpa Prabhakar
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Department of Neurology and Center for Molecular Imaging Research, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Program in Neuroscience, Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - June Goto
- Translational Medicine Division, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Xuan Zuang
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Department of Neurology and Center for Molecular Imaging Research, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Program in Neuroscience, Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Miguel Sena-Esteves
- Neurology Department, Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Roderick Bronson
- Rodent Histopathology Core Facility, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Jillian Brockmann
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Davide Gianni
- Neurology Department, Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Gregory R. Wojtkiewicz
- Center for Systems Biology and Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - John W. Chen
- Center for Systems Biology and Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Anat Stemmer-Rachamimov
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - David J. Kwiatkowski
- Translational Medicine Division, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Xandra O. Breakefield
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Department of Neurology and Center for Molecular Imaging Research, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Program in Neuroscience, Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Discovery of endothelium and mesenchymal properties of primo vessels in the mesentery. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2013; 2013:205951. [PMID: 23662116 PMCID: PMC3639629 DOI: 10.1155/2013/205951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2012] [Revised: 01/22/2013] [Accepted: 01/30/2013] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Recent evidences demonstrated that endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) has a crucial role in cancer and is recognized as a unique source of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). Primo vascular system (PVS) is a new circulatory system which may play an important role in cancer metastasis and regeneration. In the current study, we applied previously established time-saving method to identify primo vessels and further investigated the immunocytochemical properties of primo vessels. Both primo vessels and primary primo vessel cells in the mesentery expressed endothelial markers and fibroblast markers. Double-labeling experiments demonstrated that endothelial and fibroblast markers are coexpressed in primo vessels. In addition, under the stimulation of TGF-β1 in vitro, primary primo vessel cells differentiated into fibroblasts. Therefore, we found that primo vessels in the mesentery had a transitional structure between endothelium and mesenchymal. This is a new finding of EndMT in normal postnatal animals.
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Ræder H, Vesterhus M, El Ouaamari A, Paulo JA, McAllister FE, Liew CW, Hu J, Kawamori D, Molven A, Gygi SP, Njølstad PR, Kahn CR, Kulkarni RN. Absence of diabetes and pancreatic exocrine dysfunction in a transgenic model of carboxyl-ester lipase-MODY (maturity-onset diabetes of the young). PLoS One 2013; 8:e60229. [PMID: 23565203 PMCID: PMC3615023 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0060229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2013] [Accepted: 02/23/2013] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Background CEL-MODY is a monogenic form of diabetes with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency caused by mutations in CARBOXYL-ESTER LIPASE (CEL). The pathogenic processes underlying CEL-MODY are poorly understood, and the global knockout mouse model of the CEL gene (CELKO) did not recapitulate the disease. We therefore aimed to create and phenotype a mouse model specifically over-expressing mutated CEL in the pancreas. Methods We established a monotransgenic floxed (flanking LOX sequences) mouse line carrying the human CEL mutation c.1686delT and crossed it with an elastase-Cre mouse to derive a bitransgenic mouse line with pancreas-specific over-expression of CEL carrying this disease-associated mutation (TgCEL). Following confirmation of murine pancreatic expression of the human transgene by real-time quantitative PCR, we phenotyped the mouse model fed a normal chow and compared it with mice fed a 60% high fat diet (HFD) as well as the effects of short-term and long-term cerulein exposure. Results Pancreatic exocrine function was normal in TgCEL mice on normal chow as assessed by serum lipid and lipid-soluble vitamin levels, fecal elastase and fecal fat absorption, and the normoglycemic mice exhibited normal pancreatic morphology. On 60% HFD, the mice gained weight to the same extent as controls, had normal pancreatic exocrine function and comparable glucose tolerance even after resuming normal diet and follow up up to 22 months of age. The cerulein-exposed TgCEL mice gained weight and remained glucose tolerant, and there were no detectable mutation-specific differences in serum amylase, islet hormones or the extent of pancreatic tissue inflammation. Conclusions In this murine model of human CEL-MODY diabetes, we did not detect mutation-specific endocrine or exocrine pancreatic phenotypes, in response to altered diets or exposure to cerulein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helge Ræder
- Joslin Diabetes Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.
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Lobe CP, Guo C. Reporter genes to detect Cre excision in mice. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013; Chapter 15:Unit15.4. [PMID: 23045076 DOI: 10.1002/0471140856.tx1504s10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Transgenic mouse lines that express Cre recombinase with tissue and temporal specificity are being developed as important new tools to manipulate the mouse genome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corrine P Lobe
- Toronto, Sunnybrook and Womens College Health Sciences Centre and the University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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73
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Straessler KM, Jones KB, Hu H, Jin H, van de Rijn M, Capecchi MR. Modeling clear cell sarcomagenesis in the mouse: cell of origin differentiation state impacts tumor characteristics. Cancer Cell 2013; 23:215-27. [PMID: 23410975 PMCID: PMC3640275 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccr.2012.12.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2012] [Revised: 11/13/2012] [Accepted: 12/26/2012] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Clear cell sarcoma (CCS) of tendons and aponeuroses is a deadly soft-tissue malignancy resembling melanoma, with a predilection for young adults. EWS-ATF1, the fusion product of a balanced chromosomal translocation between chromosomes 22 and 12, is considered the definitional feature of the tumor. Conditional expression of the EWS-ATF1 human cDNA in the mouse generates CCS-like tumors with 100% penetrance. Tumors, developed through varied means of initiating expression of the fusion oncogene, model human CCS morphologically, immunohistochemically, and by genome-wide expression profiling. We also demonstrate that although fusion oncogene expression in later stages of differentiation can transform mesenchymal progenitor cells and generate tumors resembling CCS generally, expression in cells retaining stem cell markers permits the full melanoma-related phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krystal M. Straessler
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Kevin B. Jones
- Department of Orthopaedics and Huntsman Cancer Institute Center for Children's Cancer Research, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Hao Hu
- Department of Epidemiology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Huifeng Jin
- Department of Orthopaedics and Huntsman Cancer Institute Center for Children's Cancer Research, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Matt van de Rijn
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University Medical Center, Palo Alto, CA 94305
| | - Mario R. Capecchi
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
- Correspondence: , 801.581.7096
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Nakajima M, Tsuruta M, Mori H, Nishikawa C, Okuyama S, Furukawa Y. A comparative study of axon-surrounding cells in the two nasal nerve tracts from mouse olfactory epithelium and vomeronasal organ. Brain Res 2013; 1503:16-23. [PMID: 23410787 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2013.01.053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2012] [Revised: 01/28/2013] [Accepted: 01/31/2013] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The olfactory and vomeronasal systems are the two nasal chemical detectors in mammals. While glial cells in the olfactory nerve tracts have been well-investigated, little is known about cells in the vomeronasal nerve tracts. In the present study, we compared the expression patterns of marker proteins in the cells comprising the two nasal nerve tracts in mice. Neural crest-derived cells surrounded the olfactory nerve axons in the lamina propria of the olfactory epithelium. These cells expressed glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and p75 glycoprotein, which are markers of olfactory ensheathing cells. Neural crest-derived cells also surrounded the vomeronasal nerve axons in the lamina propria of the vomeronasal epithelium. These nerve axon-surrounding cells, however, did not express GFAP or p75. Rather, the vomeronasal nerve axons expressed GFAP and p75. These results suggest that axon-surrounding cells functionally differ between the olfactory and vomeronasal nerve tracts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mitsunari Nakajima
- Department of Pharmaceutical Pharmacology, School of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Matsuyama University, 4-2 Bunkyo-cho, Matsuyama 790-8578, Ehime, Japan.
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Abstract
RATIONALE Wt1-Cre-based tools are important reagents for studying epicardial cell fate and gene function. OBJECTIVE To better describe the properties of Wt1-Cre-based tools to enhance their use in Cre-loxP-based experiments. METHODS AND RESULTS In contrast to recently reported results, we show that constitutive Wt1(GFPCre) in combination with certain Cre-activated reporters can be used to trace (pro) epicardial cell fate. Wt1(CreERT2) can be efficiently induced by tamoxifen administration. We show substantial labeling of coronary endothelial cells when induction is performed at late but not early stages of heart development. CONCLUSIONS Wt1-based Cre alleles are useful tools for genetic lineage tracing of epicardial cells and mesothelium of other organs. Using these tools with proper understanding of their properties and limitations enables genetic labeling of epicardial cells and their derivatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Nutrition and Metabolism, Institute for Nutritional Sciences, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
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Fosang AJ, Golub SB, East CJ, Rogerson FM. Abundant LacZ activity in the absence of Cre expression in the normal and inflamed synovium of adult Col2a1-Cre; ROSA26RLacZ reporter mice. Osteoarthritis Cartilage 2013; 21:401-4. [PMID: 23219730 DOI: 10.1016/j.joca.2012.11.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2012] [Revised: 11/22/2012] [Accepted: 11/26/2012] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Recent analyses of Col2a1-Cre; ROSA26R reporter mice showed that synovial fibroblasts in 7-day mice were LacZ positive, due to a history of Col2a1-Cre expression conferred by their origin in the interzone of the developing joint. We have examined LacZ staining in adult Col2a1-Cre(+/0); ROSA26R(LacZ) mice, with and without inflammatory arthritis, and found that synovial fibroblasts in normal and inflamed synovium are LacZ positive, but Cre negative. Our results suggest that Cre-mediated recombination in joint interzone cells during development endure in adult synovial cells despite the absence of ongoing Cre expression. These findings have important implications and applications for the study of synovial inflammation in models of experimental arthritis.
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Affiliation(s)
- A J Fosang
- University of Melbourne, Department of Paediatrics and Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia.
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77
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Pal M, Wunderlich CM, Spohn G, Brönneke HS, Schmidt-Supprian M, Wunderlich FT. Alteration of JNK-1 signaling in skeletal muscle fails to affect glucose homeostasis and obesity-associated insulin resistance in mice. PLoS One 2013; 8:e54247. [PMID: 23349837 PMCID: PMC3547909 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0054247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2012] [Accepted: 12/10/2012] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Obesity and associated metabolic disturbances, such as increased circulating fatty acids cause prolonged low grade activation of inflammatory signaling pathways in liver, skeletal muscle, adipose tissue and even in the CNS. Activation of inflammatory pathways in turn impairs insulin signaling, ultimately leading to obesity-associated type 2 diabetes mellitus. Conventional JNK-1 knock out mice are protected from high fat diet-induced insulin resistance, characterizing JNK-1-inhibition as a potential approach to improve glucose metabolism in obese patients. However, the cell type-specific role of elevated JNK-1 signaling as present during the course of obesity has not been fully elucidated yet. To investigate the functional contribution of altered JNK-1 activation in skeletal muscle, we have generated a ROSA26 insertion mouse strain allowing for Cre-activatable expression of a JNK-1 constitutive active construct (JNKC). To examine the consequence of skeletal muscle-restricted JNK-1 overactivation in the development of insulin resistance and glucose metabolism, JNKC mice were crossed to Mck-Cre mice yielding JNKSM-C mice. However, despite increased muscle-specific JNK activation, energy homeostasis and glucose metabolism in JNKSM-C mice remained largely unaltered compared to controls. In line with these findings, obese mice with skeletal muscle specific disruption of JNK-1, did not affect energy and glucose homeostasis. These experiments indicate that JNK-1 activation in skeletal muscle does not account for the major effects on diet-induced, JNK-1-mediated deterioration of insulin action and points towards a so far underappreciated role of JNK-1 in other tissues than skeletal muscle during the development of obesity-associated insulin resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Pal
- Max Planck Institute for Neurological Research, Institute for Genetics, University of Cologne and Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD) and Center of Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), Cologne, Germany
| | - Claudia M. Wunderlich
- Max Planck Institute for Neurological Research, Institute for Genetics, University of Cologne and Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD) and Center of Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), Cologne, Germany
| | - Gabriele Spohn
- Max Planck Institute for Neurological Research, Institute for Genetics, University of Cologne and Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD) and Center of Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), Cologne, Germany
| | - Hella S. Brönneke
- Mouse Phenotyping Core Facility of Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), Cologne, Germany
| | - Marc Schmidt-Supprian
- Molecular Immunology and Signaltransduction, Max Planck Institute for Biochemistry, Munich, Germany
| | - F. Thomas Wunderlich
- Max Planck Institute for Neurological Research, Institute for Genetics, University of Cologne and Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD) and Center of Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), Cologne, Germany
- * E-mail:
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78
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Hasegawa Y, Daitoku Y, Sekiguchi K, Tanimoto Y, Mizuno-Iijima S, Mizuno S, Kajiwara N, Ema M, Miwa Y, Mekada K, Yoshiki A, Takahashi S, Sugiyama F, Yagami KI. Novel ROSA26 Cre-reporter knock-in C57BL/6N mice exhibiting green emission before and red emission after Cre-mediated recombination. Exp Anim 2013; 62:295-304. [PMID: 24172193 PMCID: PMC4160954 DOI: 10.1538/expanim.62.295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2013] [Accepted: 04/22/2013] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
The Cre/loxP system is a strategy for controlling temporal and/or spatial gene expression through genome alteration in mice. As successful Cre/loxP genome alteration depends on Cre-driver mice, Cre-reporter mice are essential for validation of Cre gene expression in vivo. In most Cre-reporter mouse strains, although the presence of reporter product indicates the expression of Cre recombinase, it has remained unclear whether a lack of reporter signal indicates either no Cre recombinase expression or insufficient reporter gene promoter activity. We produced a novel ROSA26 knock-in Cre-reporter C57BL/6N strain exhibiting green emission before and red after Cre-mediated recombination, designated as strain R26GRR. Ubiquitous green fluorescence and no red fluorescence were observed in R26GRR mice. To investigate the activation of tdsRed, EGFP-excised R26GRR, R26RR, mice were produced through the crossing of C57BL/6N mice with R26GRR/Ayu1-Cre F1 mice. R26RR mice showed extraordinarily strong red fluorescence in almost all tissues examined, suggesting ubiquitous activation of the second reporter in all tissues after Cre/loxP recombination. Moreover, endothelial cell lineage and pancreatic islet-specific expression of red fluorescence were detected in R26GRR/Tie2-Cre F1 mice and R26GRR /Ins1-Cre F1 mice, respectively. These results indicated that R26GRR mice are a useful novel Cre-reporter mouse strain. In addition, R26GRR mice with a pure C57BL/6N background represent a valuable source of green-to-red photoconvertible cells following Cre/loxP recombination for application in transplantation studies. The R26GRR mouse strain will be available from RIKEN BioResource Center (http://www.brc.riken.jp/lab/animal/en/).
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshikazu Hasegawa
- Laborarory Animal Resource Center, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba 305-8575, Japan
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79
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Nakajima M, Mori H, Nishikawa C, Tsuruta M, Okuyama S, Furukawa Y. Psychiatric disorder-related abnormal behavior and habenulointerpeduncular pathway defects in Wnt1-cre and Wnt1-GAL4 double transgenic mice. J Neurochem 2012; 124:241-9. [DOI: 10.1111/jnc.12085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2012] [Revised: 10/30/2012] [Accepted: 11/01/2012] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Mitsunari Nakajima
- Department of Pharmaceutical Pharmacology; School of Clinical Pharmacy; College of Pharmaceutical Sciences; Matsuyama University; Matsuyama Ehime Japan
| | - Hisamichi Mori
- Department of Pharmaceutical Pharmacology; School of Clinical Pharmacy; College of Pharmaceutical Sciences; Matsuyama University; Matsuyama Ehime Japan
| | - Chisa Nishikawa
- Department of Pharmaceutical Pharmacology; School of Clinical Pharmacy; College of Pharmaceutical Sciences; Matsuyama University; Matsuyama Ehime Japan
| | - Momoko Tsuruta
- Department of Pharmaceutical Pharmacology; School of Clinical Pharmacy; College of Pharmaceutical Sciences; Matsuyama University; Matsuyama Ehime Japan
| | - Satoshi Okuyama
- Department of Pharmaceutical Pharmacology; School of Clinical Pharmacy; College of Pharmaceutical Sciences; Matsuyama University; Matsuyama Ehime Japan
| | - Yoshiko Furukawa
- Department of Pharmaceutical Pharmacology; School of Clinical Pharmacy; College of Pharmaceutical Sciences; Matsuyama University; Matsuyama Ehime Japan
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80
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Gui YS, Wang L, Tian X, Feng R, Ma A, Cai B, Zhang H, Xu KF. SPC-Cre-ERT2 transgenic mouse for temporal gene deletion in alveolar epithelial cells. PLoS One 2012; 7:e46076. [PMID: 23049940 PMCID: PMC3457936 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0046076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2012] [Accepted: 08/27/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Although several Cre-loxP-based gene knockout mouse models have been generated for the study of gene function in alveolar epithelia in the lung, their applications are still limited. In this study, we developed a SPC-Cre-ERT2 mouse model, in which a tamoxifen-inducible Cre recombinase (Cre-ERT2) is under the control of the human surfactant protein C (SPC) promoter. The specificity and efficiency of Cre-ERT2 activity was first evaluated by crossing SPC-Cre-ERT2 mouse with ROSA26R mouse, a β-galactosidase reporter strain. We found that Cre-ERT2 was expressed in 30.7% type II alveolar epithelial cells of SPC-Cre-ERT2/ROSA26R mouse lung tissues in the presence of tamoxifen. We then tested the tamoxifen-inducible recombinase activity of Cre-ERT2 in a mouse strain bearing TSC1 conditional knockout alleles (TSC1fx/fx). TSC1 deletion was detected in the lungs of tamoxifen treated SPC-Cre-ERT2/TSC1fx/fx mice. Therefore this SPC-Cre-ERT2 mouse model may be a valuable tool to investigate functions of genes in lung development, physiology and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao-Song Gui
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
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81
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Yip DJ, Corcoran CP, Alvarez-Saavedra M, DeMaria A, Rennick S, Mears AJ, Rudnicki MA, Messier C, Picketts DJ. Snf2l regulates Foxg1-dependent progenitor cell expansion in the developing brain. Dev Cell 2012; 22:871-8. [PMID: 22516202 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2012.01.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2011] [Revised: 01/11/2012] [Accepted: 01/26/2012] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Balancing progenitor cell self-renewal and differentiation is essential for brain development and is regulated by the activity of chromatin remodeling complexes. Nevertheless, linking chromatin changes to specific pathways that control cortical histogenesis remains a challenge. Here we identify a genetic interaction between the chromatin remodeler Snf2l and Foxg1, a key regulator of neurogenesis. Snf2l mutant mice exhibit forebrain hypercellularity arising from increased Foxg1 expression, increased progenitor cell expansion, and delayed differentiation. We demonstrate that Snf2l binds to the Foxg1 locus at midneurogenesis and that the phenotype is rescued by reducing Foxg1 dosage, thus revealing that Snf2l and Foxg1 function antagonistically to regulate brain size.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darren J Yip
- Regenerative Medicine Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, and Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
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82
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Reduced prostate branching morphogenesis in stromal fibroblast, but not in epithelial, estrogen receptor α knockout mice. Asian J Androl 2012; 14:546-55. [PMID: 22609821 DOI: 10.1038/aja.2011.181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Early studies suggested that estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) is involved in estrogen-mediated imprinting effects in prostate development. We recently reported a more complete ERα knockout (KO) mouse model via mating β-actin Cre transgenic mice with floxed ERα mice. These ACTB-ERαKO male mice showed defects in prostatic branching morphogenesis, which demonstrates that ERα is necessary to maintain proliferative events in the prostate. However, within which prostate cell type ERα exerts those important functions remains to be elucidated. To address this, we have bred floxed ERα mice with either fibroblast-specific protein (FSP)-Cre or probasin-Cre transgenic mice to generate a mouse model that has deleted ERα gene in either stromal fibroblast (FSP-ERαKO) or epithelial (pes-ERαKO) prostate cells. We found that circulating testosterone and fertility were not altered in FSP-ERαKO and pes-ERαKO male mice. Prostates of FSP-ERαKO mice have less branching morphogenesis compared to that of wild-type littermates. Further analyses indicated that loss of stromal ERα leads to increased stromal apoptosis, reduced expression of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and FGF10, and increased expression of BMP4. Collectively, we have established the first in vivo prostate stromal and epithelial selective ERαKO mouse models and the results from these mice indicated that stromal fibroblast ERα plays important roles in prostatic branching morphogenesis via a paracrine fashion. Selective deletion of the ERα gene in mouse prostate epithelial cells by probasin-Cre does not affect the regular prostate development and homeostasis.
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83
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Chen Y, Magnani D, Theil T, Pratt T, Price DJ. Evidence that descending cortical axons are essential for thalamocortical axons to cross the pallial-subpallial boundary in the embryonic forebrain. PLoS One 2012; 7:e33105. [PMID: 22412988 PMCID: PMC3297629 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0033105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2011] [Accepted: 02/03/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Developing thalamocortical axons traverse the subpallium to reach the cortex located in the pallium. We tested the hypothesis that descending corticofugal axons are important for guiding thalamocortical axons across the pallial-subpallial boundary, using conditional mutagenesis to assess the effects of blocking corticofugal axonal development without disrupting thalamus, subpallium or the pallial-subpallial boundary. We found that thalamic axons still traversed the subpallium in topographic order but did not cross the pallial-subpallial boundary. Co-culture experiments indicated that the inability of thalamic axons to cross the boundary was not explained by mutant cortex developing a long-range chemorepulsive action on thalamic axons. On the contrary, cortex from conditional mutants retained its thalamic axonal growth-promoting activity and continued to express Nrg-1, which is responsible for this stimulatory effect. When mutant cortex was replaced with control cortex, corticofugal efferents were restored and thalamic axons from conditional mutants associated with them and crossed the pallial-subpallial boundary. Our study provides the most compelling evidence to date that cortical efferents are required to guide thalamocortical axons across the pallial-subpallial boundary, which is otherwise hostile to thalamic axons. These results support the hypothesis that thalamic axons grow from subpallium to cortex guided by cortical efferents, with stimulation from diffusible cortical growth-promoting factors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - David J. Price
- Centre for Integrative Physiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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84
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Schmouth JF, Bonaguro RJ, Corso-Diaz X, Simpson EM. Modelling human regulatory variation in mouse: finding the function in genome-wide association studies and whole-genome sequencing. PLoS Genet 2012; 8:e1002544. [PMID: 22396661 PMCID: PMC3291530 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1002544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
An increasing body of literature from genome-wide association studies and human whole-genome sequencing highlights the identification of large numbers of candidate regulatory variants of potential therapeutic interest in numerous diseases. Our relatively poor understanding of the functions of non-coding genomic sequence, and the slow and laborious process of experimental validation of the functional significance of human regulatory variants, limits our ability to fully benefit from this information in our efforts to comprehend human disease. Humanized mouse models (HuMMs), in which human genes are introduced into the mouse, suggest an approach to this problem. In the past, HuMMs have been used successfully to study human disease variants; e.g., the complex genetic condition arising from Down syndrome, common monogenic disorders such as Huntington disease and β-thalassemia, and cancer susceptibility genes such as BRCA1. In this commentary, we highlight a novel method for high-throughput single-copy site-specific generation of HuMMs entitled High-throughput Human Genes on the X Chromosome (HuGX). This method can be applied to most human genes for which a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) construct can be derived and a mouse-null allele exists. This strategy comprises (1) the use of recombineering technology to create a human variant-harbouring BAC, (2) knock-in of this BAC into the mouse genome using Hprt docking technology, and (3) allele comparison by interspecies complementation. We demonstrate the throughput of the HuGX method by generating a series of seven different alleles for the human NR2E1 gene at Hprt. In future challenges, we consider the current limitations of experimental approaches and call for a concerted effort by the genetics community, for both human and mouse, to solve the challenge of the functional analysis of human regulatory variation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-François Schmouth
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics at the Child and Family Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
- Genetics Graduate Program, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Russell J. Bonaguro
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics at the Child and Family Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Ximena Corso-Diaz
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics at the Child and Family Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
- Genetics Graduate Program, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Elizabeth M. Simpson
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics at the Child and Family Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
- Genetics Graduate Program, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
- * E-mail:
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85
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Tchorz JS, Suply T, Ksiazek I, Giachino C, Cloëtta D, Danzer CP, Doll T, Isken A, Lemaistre M, Taylor V, Bettler B, Kinzel B, Mueller M. A modified RMCE-compatible Rosa26 locus for the expression of transgenes from exogenous promoters. PLoS One 2012; 7:e30011. [PMID: 22253858 PMCID: PMC3258265 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0030011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2011] [Accepted: 12/11/2011] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Generation of gain-of-function transgenic mice by targeting the Rosa26 locus has been established as an alternative to classical transgenic mice produced by pronuclear microinjection. However, targeting transgenes to the endogenous Rosa26 promoter results in moderate ubiquitous expression and is not suitable for high expression levels. Therefore, we now generated a modified Rosa26 (modRosa26) locus that combines efficient targeted transgenesis using recombinase-mediated cassette exchange (RMCE) by Flipase (Flp-RMCE) or Cre recombinase (Cre-RMCE) with transgene expression from exogenous promoters. We silenced the endogenous Rosa26 promoter and characterized several ubiquitous (pCAG, EF1α and CMV) and tissue-specific (VeCad, αSMA) promoters in the modRosa26 locus in vivo. We demonstrate that the ubiquitous pCAG promoter in the modRosa26 locus now offers high transgene expression. While tissue-specific promoters were all active in their cognate tissues they additionally led to rare ectopic expression. To achieve high expression levels in a tissue-specific manner, we therefore combined Flp-RMCE for rapid ES cell targeting, the pCAG promoter for high transgene levels and Cre/LoxP conditional transgene activation using well-characterized Cre lines. Using this approach we generated a Cre/LoxP-inducible reporter mouse line with high EGFP expression levels that enables cell tracing in live cells. A second reporter line expressing luciferase permits efficient monitoring of Cre activity in live animals. Thus, targeting the modRosa26 locus by RMCE minimizes the effort required to target ES cells and generates a tool for the use exogenous promoters in combination with single-copy transgenes for predictable expression in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan S. Tchorz
- Novartis Institute for Biomedical Research, Developmental and Molecular Pathways, Novartis Pharma AG, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Biomedicine, Institute of Physiology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Thomas Suply
- Novartis Institute for Biomedical Research, Developmental and Molecular Pathways, Novartis Pharma AG, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Iwona Ksiazek
- Novartis Institute for Biomedical Research, Developmental and Molecular Pathways, Novartis Pharma AG, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | - Dimitri Cloëtta
- Department of Biomedicine, Institute of Physiology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Claus-Peter Danzer
- Novartis Institute for Biomedical Research, Developmental and Molecular Pathways, Novartis Pharma AG, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Thierry Doll
- Novartis Institute for Biomedical Research, Developmental and Molecular Pathways, Novartis Pharma AG, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Andrea Isken
- Novartis Institute for Biomedical Research, Developmental and Molecular Pathways, Novartis Pharma AG, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Marianne Lemaistre
- Novartis Institute for Biomedical Research, Developmental and Molecular Pathways, Novartis Pharma AG, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Verdon Taylor
- Max-Planck Institute for Immunobiology, Freiburg, Germany
- Department of Biomedical Science, Centre for Stem Cell Biology, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Bernhard Bettler
- Department of Biomedicine, Institute of Physiology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Bernd Kinzel
- Novartis Institute for Biomedical Research, Developmental and Molecular Pathways, Novartis Pharma AG, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Matthias Mueller
- Novartis Institute for Biomedical Research, Developmental and Molecular Pathways, Novartis Pharma AG, Basel, Switzerland
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86
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Zhou B, Pu WT. Isolation and characterization of embryonic and adult epicardium and epicardium-derived cells. Methods Mol Biol 2012; 843:155-68. [PMID: 22222530 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-61779-523-7_15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Epicardium is the outer cell layer of the heart. Its integrity and function are essential for normal heart development. To study the role of epicardium in both fetal and adult hearts, it is desirable to isolate and culture pure populations of these cells. Here we describe methods with Cre-loxP technology to lineage tag epicardial cells (EpiCs) and epicardium-derived cells (EPDCs), dissociate and isolate them by flow-activated cytometry sorting (FACS), and characterize them by quantitative PCR and immunostaining. This platform allows further characterization and manipulation of EpiCs and EPDCs for expression studies and functional assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Zhou
- Department of Cardiology, Children's Hospital Boston, Boston, MA, USA.
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87
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Kumar PA, Hu Y, Yamamoto Y, Hoe NB, Wei TS, Mu D, Sun Y, Joo LS, Dagher R, Zielonka EM, Wang DY, Lim B, Chow VT, Crum CP, Xian W, McKeon F. Distal airway stem cells yield alveoli in vitro and during lung regeneration following H1N1 influenza infection. Cell 2011; 147:525-38. [PMID: 22036562 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2011.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 423] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2011] [Revised: 08/28/2011] [Accepted: 10/04/2011] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The extent of lung regeneration following catastrophic damage and the potential role of adult stem cells in such a process remains obscure. Sublethal infection of mice with an H1N1 influenza virus related to that of the 1918 pandemic triggers massive airway damage followed by apparent regeneration. We show here that p63-expressing stem cells in the bronchiolar epithelium undergo rapid proliferation after infection and radiate to interbronchiolar regions of alveolar ablation. Once there, these cells assemble into discrete, Krt5+ pods and initiate expression of markers typical of alveoli. Gene expression profiles of these pods suggest that they are intermediates in the reconstitution of the alveolar-capillary network eradicated by viral infection. The dynamics of this p63-expressing stem cell in lung regeneration mirrors our parallel finding that defined pedigrees of human distal airway stem cells assemble alveoli-like structures in vitro and suggests new therapeutic avenues to acute and chronic airway disease.
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88
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McCulloch L, Brown KL, Bradford BM, Hopkins J, Bailey M, Rajewsky K, Manson JC, Mabbott NA. Follicular dendritic cell-specific prion protein (PrP) expression alone is sufficient to sustain prion infection in the spleen. PLoS Pathog 2011; 7:e1002402. [PMID: 22144895 PMCID: PMC3228802 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1002402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2011] [Accepted: 10/11/2011] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Prion diseases are characterised by the accumulation of PrPSc, an abnormally folded isoform of the cellular prion protein (PrPC), in affected tissues. Following peripheral exposure high levels of prion-specific PrPSc accumulate first upon follicular dendritic cells (FDC) in lymphoid tissues before spreading to the CNS. Expression of PrPC is mandatory for cells to sustain prion infection and FDC appear to express high levels. However, whether FDC actively replicate prions or simply acquire them from other infected cells is uncertain. In the attempts to-date to establish the role of FDC in prion pathogenesis it was not possible to dissociate the Prnp expression of FDC from that of the nervous system and all other non-haematopoietic lineages. This is important as FDC may simply acquire prions after synthesis by other infected cells. To establish the role of FDC in prion pathogenesis transgenic mice were created in which PrPC expression was specifically “switched on” or “off” only on FDC. We show that PrPC-expression only on FDC is sufficient to sustain prion replication in the spleen. Furthermore, prion replication is blocked in the spleen when PrPC-expression is specifically ablated only on FDC. These data definitively demonstrate that FDC are the essential sites of prion replication in lymphoid tissues. The demonstration that Prnp-ablation only on FDC blocked splenic prion accumulation without apparent consequences for FDC status represents a novel opportunity to prevent neuroinvasion by modulation of PrPC expression on FDC. Prion diseases are infectious neurological disorders and are considered to be caused by an abnormally folded infectious protein termed PrPSc. Soon after infection prions accumulate first upon follicular dendritic cells (FDC) in lymphoid tissues before spreading to the brain where they cause damage to nerve cells. Cells must express the normal cellular prion protein PrPC to become infected with prions. However, whether FDC are infected with prions or simply acquire them from other infected cells is unknown. To establish the role of FDC in prion disease PrPC expression was specifically “switched on” or “off” only on FDC. We show that PrPC-expressing FDC alone are sufficient to sustain prion replication in the spleen. Furthermore, prion replication is blocked in the spleen when PrPC-expression is switched off only on FDC. These data definitively demonstrate that FDC are the essential sites of prion replication in lymphoid tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura McCulloch
- The Roslin Institute & Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, United Kingdom
| | - Karen L. Brown
- The Roslin Institute & Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, United Kingdom
| | - Barry M. Bradford
- The Roslin Institute & Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, United Kingdom
| | - John Hopkins
- The Roslin Institute & Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, United Kingdom
| | - Mick Bailey
- Division of Veterinary Pathology, Infection and Immunity, School of Clinical Veterinary Science, University of Bristol, Avon, United Kingdom
| | - Klaus Rajewsky
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Children's Hospital, and Immune Disease Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Jean C. Manson
- The Roslin Institute & Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, United Kingdom
| | - Neil A. Mabbott
- The Roslin Institute & Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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89
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Regulable neural progenitor-specific Tsc1 loss yields giant cells with organellar dysfunction in a model of tuberous sclerosis complex. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2011; 108:E1070-9. [PMID: 22025691 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1106454108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 131] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a multiorgan genetic disease in which brain involvement causes epilepsy, intellectual disability, and autism. The hallmark pathological finding in TSC is the cerebral cortical tuber and its unique constituent, giant cells. However, an animal model that replicates giant cells has not yet been described. Here, we report that mosaic induction of Tsc1 loss in neural progenitor cells in Tsc1(cc) Nestin-rtTA(+) TetOp-cre(+) embryos by doxycycline leads to multiple neurological symptoms, including severe epilepsy and premature death. Strikingly, Tsc1-null neural progenitor cells develop into highly enlarged giant cells with enlarged vacuoles. We found that the vacuolated giant cells had multiple signs of organelle dysfunction, including markedly increased mitochondria, aberrant lysosomes, and elevated cellular stress. We found similar vacuolated giant cells in human tuber specimens. Postnatal rapamycin treatment completely reversed these phenotypes and rescued the mutants from epilepsy and premature death, despite prenatal onset of Tsc1 loss and mTOR complex 1 activation in the developing brain. This TSC brain model provides insights into the pathogenesis and organelle dysfunction of giant cells, as well as epilepsy control in patients with TSC.
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90
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Marro S, Pang ZP, Yang N, Tsai MC, Qu K, Chang HY, Südhof TC, Wernig M. Direct lineage conversion of terminally differentiated hepatocytes to functional neurons. Cell Stem Cell 2011; 9:374-82. [PMID: 21962918 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2011.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 266] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2011] [Revised: 08/16/2011] [Accepted: 09/09/2011] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Several recent studies have showed that mouse and human fibroblasts can be directly reprogrammed into induced neuronal (iN) cells, bypassing a pluripotent intermediate state. However, fibroblasts represent heterogeneous mesenchymal progenitor cells that potentially contain neural crest lineages, and the cell of origin remained undefined. This raises the fundamental question of whether lineage reprogramming is possible between cell types derived from different germ layers. Here, we demonstrate that terminally differentiated hepatocytes can be directly converted into functional iN cells. Importantly, single-cell and genome-wide expression analyses showed that fibroblast- and hepatocyte-derived iN cells not only induced a neuronal transcriptional program, but also silenced their donor transcriptome. The remaining donor signature decreased over time and could not support functional hepatocyte properties. Thus, the reprogramming factors lead to a binary lineage switch decision rather than an induction of hybrid phenotypes, but iN cells retain a small but detectable epigenetic memory of their donor cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuele Marro
- Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine and Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, CA 94305, USA
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91
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Impaired mitochondrial transport and Parkin-independent degeneration of respiratory chain-deficient dopamine neurons in vivo. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2011; 108:12937-42. [PMID: 21768369 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1103295108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 226] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Mitochondrial dysfunction is heavily implicated in Parkinson disease (PD) as exemplified by the finding of an increased frequency of respiratory chain-deficient dopamine (DA) neurons in affected patients. An inherited form of PD is caused by impaired function of Parkin, an E3 ubiquitin ligase reported to translocate to defective mitochondria in vitro to facilitate their clearance. We have developed a reporter mouse to assess mitochondrial morphology in DA neurons in vivo and show here that respiratory chain deficiency leads to fragmentation of the mitochondrial network and to the formation of large cytoplasmic bodies derived from mitochondria. Surprisingly, the dysfunctional mitochondria do not recruit Parkin in vivo, and neither the clearance of defective mitochondria nor the neurodegeneration phenotype is affected by the absence of Parkin. We also show that anterograde axonal transport of mitochondria is impaired in respiratory chain-deficient DA neurons, leading to a decreased supply of mitochondria to the axonal terminals.
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92
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Ishikawa TO, Herschman HR. Conditional bicistronic Cre reporter line expressing both firefly luciferase and β-galactosidase. Mol Imaging Biol 2011; 13:284-92. [PMID: 20495880 PMCID: PMC3051074 DOI: 10.1007/s11307-010-0333-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Purpose The Cre-loxP system has become an important strategy for conditional gene deletion and conditional gene expression in genetically engineered mice. To evaluate Cre recombinase expression, we generated reporter mice that permit both noninvasive imaging in living animals and either ex vivo histochemical/immunohistochemical tissue transgene expression analysis or quantitative enzyme analysis in the same animal. Procedures Transgenic reporter mice were generated in which a loxP-flanked enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) reporter gene and STOP sequence are placed after the nearly ubiquitously expressed CAG promoter, but before a bicistronic transcriptional unit containing luciferase and β-galactosidase reporter gene coding sequences. Results After global deletion of the floxed STOP sequence by germ line Cre deletion, the reporter mouse expresses luciferase and β-galactosidase in all tissues examined. Tissue-specific expression of both reporter genes occurs in reporter mouse strains expressing Cre in skin (K14 keratin Cre), heart (myosin light chair Cre), or colon (Villin Cre). Conclusion The luc-galTg reporter mouse allows noninvasive imaging of target Cre activation both in living animals and in tissues and cells following necropsy, using loss of EGFP expression, gain of luciferase expression, and gain of β-galactosidase expression as alternatives within the same animal for qualitative analysis of Cre expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomo-o Ishikawa
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, Molecular Biology Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, 341 Boyer Hall, 611 Charles E. Young Drive East, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
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93
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Lam DD, Leinninger GM, Louis GW, Garfield AS, Marston OJ, Leshan RL, Scheller EL, Christensen L, Donato J, Xia J, Evans ML, Elias C, Dalley JW, Burdakov DI, Myers MG, Heisler LK. Leptin does not directly affect CNS serotonin neurons to influence appetite. Cell Metab 2011; 13:584-91. [PMID: 21531340 PMCID: PMC3087147 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2011.03.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2010] [Revised: 12/28/2010] [Accepted: 03/18/2011] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Serotonin (5-HT) and leptin play important roles in the modulation of energy balance. Here we investigated mechanisms by which leptin might interact with CNS 5-HT pathways to influence appetite. Although some leptin receptor (LepRb) neurons lie close to 5-HT neurons in the dorsal raphe (DR), 5-HT neurons do not express LepRb. Indeed, while leptin hyperpolarizes some non-5-HT DR neurons, leptin does not alter the activity of DR 5-HT neurons. Furthermore, 5-HT depletion does not impair the anorectic effects of leptin. The serotonin transporter-cre allele (Sert(cre)) is expressed in 5-HT (and developmentally in some non-5-HT) neurons. While Sert(cre) promotes LepRb excision in a few LepRb neurons in the hypothalamus, it is not active in DR LepRb neurons, and neuron-specific Sert(cre)-mediated LepRb inactivation in mice does not alter body weight or adiposity. Thus, leptin does not directly influence 5-HT neurons and does not meaningfully modulate important appetite-related determinants via 5-HT neuron function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel D. Lam
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1PD, UK
| | - Gina M. Leinninger
- Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology, and Diabetes, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Gwendolyn W. Louis
- Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology, and Diabetes, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | | | - Oliver J. Marston
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1PD, UK
| | - Rebecca L. Leshan
- Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology, and Diabetes, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Erica L. Scheller
- School of Dentistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Lyndsay Christensen
- Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology, and Diabetes, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Jose Donato
- Division of Hypothalamic Research, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390-9077, USA
| | - Jing Xia
- Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute and Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1PD, UK
| | - Mark L. Evans
- Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1PD, UK
| | - Carol Elias
- Division of Hypothalamic Research, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390-9077, USA
| | - Jeffrey W. Dalley
- Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute and Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1PD, UK
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1PD, UK
| | - Denis I. Burdakov
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1PD, UK
| | - Martin G. Myers
- Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology, and Diabetes, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Lora K. Heisler
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1PD, UK
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94
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Lin FY, Yang X. [Issues and solutions of conditional gene targeting]. YI CHUAN = HEREDITAS 2011; 33:469-484. [PMID: 21586394 DOI: 10.3724/sp.j.1005.2011.00469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Conditional gene targeting, based on the site-specific recombination system such as Cre-loxP, plays a vital role in the study of gene functions and the generation of disease mouse models. It was always under consideration that there were problems in the Cre-loxP recombination system, such as illegal expression pattern of Cre transgene, variation of Cre recombination efficiency and toxicity of Cre recombinase, as well as the potential influences of genetic background, breeding strategy, experimental control and gene compensation. Oversights of these issues may have a profound influence on the accuracy of gene functional dissection and conditional gene targeting mice phenotypic interpretation. Accordingly, solutions should be adopted including delicate regulative control of temporal-spatial specific Cre expression, detailed detection of Cre recombination efficiency, reduction of Cre toxicity, simplification of mouse genetic background, optimization of breeding, setting up of proper control and combined conditional gene targeting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fu-Yu Lin
- Genetic Laboratory of Development and Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Proteomics, Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing 100071, China.
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95
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Sandström J, Heiduschka P, Beck SC, Philippar U, Seeliger MW, Schraermeyer U, Nordheim A. Degeneration of the mouse retina upon dysregulated activity of serum response factor. Mol Vis 2011; 17:1110-27. [PMID: 21552476 PMCID: PMC3087454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2010] [Accepted: 04/26/2011] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Our aim was to generate and phenotypically characterize a transgenic mouse line expressing a constitutively active variant of the transcription regulatory protein serum response factor (SRF), namely the SRF-VP16 protein. This new mouse strain has been registered under the designation Gt(ROSA)26Sor(tm1(SRF-VP16)Antu). We found phenotypic changes upon ectopic expression of SRF-VP16, especially in the mouse retina. METHODS Using homologous recombination, we integrated an SRF-VP16 conditional (i.e., "flox-STOP" repressed) expression transgene into the Rosa26 locus of murine embryonic stem (ES) cells. These engineered ES cells were used to derive the Gt(ROSA)26Sor(tm1(SRF-VP16)Antu) mouse strain. Semiquantitative real-time PCR was used to determine expression of the SRF-VP16 transgene at the mRNA level, both in young (P20 and P30) and adult (six months old) Gt(ROSA)26Sor(tm1(SRF-VP16)Antu) mice. We also investigated the transcript levels of endogenous Srf and several SRF target genes. Retinal function was tested by electroretinography in both young and adult mice. Morphological abnormalities could be visualized by hematoxylin and eosin staining of sectioned, paraffin-embedded eye tissue samples. Scanning-laser ophthalmoscopy was used to investigate retinal vascularization and degeneration in adult mice. RESULTS We show that the SRF-VP16 mRNA is expressed to a low but significant degree in the retinas of young and adult animals of the Gt(ROSA)26Sor(tm1(SRF-VP16)Antu) mouse strain, even in the absence of Cre-mediated deletion of the "flox-STOP" cassette. In the retinas of these transgenic mice, endogenous Srf displays elevated transcript levels. Ectopic retinal expression of constitutively active SRF-VP16 is correlated with the malfunction of retinal neurons in both heterozygous and homozygous animals of both age groups (P20 and adult). Additionally, mislamination of retinal cell layers and cellular rosette formations are found in retinas of both heterozygous and homozygous animals of young age. In homozygous individuals, however, the cellular rosettes are more widespread over the fundus. At adult age, retinas both from animals that are heterozygous and homozygous for the floxSTOP/SRF-VP16 transgene display severe degeneration, mainly of the photoreceptor cell layer. Wild-type age-matched littermates, however, do not show any degeneration. The severity of the observed effects correlates with dosage of the transgene. CONCLUSIONS This is the first report suggesting an influence of the transcription factor SRF on the development and function of the murine retina. Ectopic SRF-VP16 mRNA expression in the retinas of young animals is correlated with photoreceptor layer mislamination and impaired retinal function. At an advanced age of six months, degenerative processes are detected in SRF-VP16 transgenic retinas accompanied by impaired retinal function. The Gt(ROSA)26Sor(tm1(SRF-VP16)Antu) mouse strain represents a genetic SRF gain-of-function mouse model that will complement the current SRF loss-of-function models. It promises to provide new insight into the hitherto poorly defined role of SRF in retinal development and function, including potential contributions to ophthalmologic disorders. Furthermore, using conditional Cre-mediated activation of SRF-VP16, the described mouse strain will enable assessment of the impact of dysregulated SRF activity on the physiologic functions of various other organs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny Sandström
- Department of Molecular Biology, Interfaculty Institute for Cell Biology, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Peter Heiduschka
- Section of Experimental Vitreoretinal Surgery, University Eye Hospital of Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Susanne C. Beck
- Division of Ocular Neurodegeneration, Centre for Ophthalmology, Institute for Ophthalmic Research, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Ulrike Philippar
- Department of Molecular Biology, Interfaculty Institute for Cell Biology, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Matthias W. Seeliger
- Division of Ocular Neurodegeneration, Centre for Ophthalmology, Institute for Ophthalmic Research, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Ulrich Schraermeyer
- Section of Experimental Vitreoretinal Surgery, University Eye Hospital of Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Alfred Nordheim
- Department of Molecular Biology, Interfaculty Institute for Cell Biology, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
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96
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Huang G, Tong C, Kumbhani DS, Ashton C, Yan H, Ying QL. Beyond knockout rats: new insights into finer genome manipulation in rats. Cell Cycle 2011; 10:1059-66. [PMID: 21383544 DOI: 10.4161/cc.10.7.15233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The ability to "knockout" specific genes in mice via embryonic stem (ES) cell-based gene-targeting technology has significantly enriched our understanding of gene function in normal and disease phenotypes. Improvements on this original strategy have been developed to enable the manipulation of genomes in a more sophisticated fashion with unprecedented precision. The rat is the model of choice in many areas of scientific investigation despite the lack of rat genetic toolboxes. Most Recent advances of zinc finger nucleases (ZFNs) and rat ES cells are diminishing the gap between rat and mouse with respect to reverse genetic approaches. Importantly, the establishment of rat ES cell-based gene targeting technology, in combination with the unique advantages of using rats, provides new, exciting opportunities to create animal models that mimic human diseases more faithfully. We hereby report our recent results concerning finer genetic modifications in the rat, and propose their potential applications in addressing biological questions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guanyi Huang
- Department of Cell and Neurobiology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA USA
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97
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Nakajima M, Matsuda K, Miyauchi N, Fukunaga Y, Watanabe S, Okuyama S, Pérez J, Fernández-Llebrez P, Shen J, Furukawa Y. Hydrocephalus and abnormal subcommissural organ in mice lacking presenilin-1 in Wnt1 cell lineages. Brain Res 2011; 1382:275-81. [PMID: 21262207 PMCID: PMC3418702 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2011.01.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2010] [Revised: 01/14/2011] [Accepted: 01/14/2011] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Presenilin-1 (PS1) is a transmembrane protein that is in many cases responsible for the development of familial Alzheimer's disease. PS1 is widely expressed in embryogenesis and is essential for neurogenesis, somitogenesis, angiogenesis, and cardiac morphogenesis. To further investigate the role of PS1 in the brain, we inactivated the PS1 gene in Wnt1 cell lineages using the Cre-loxP recombination system. Here we show that conditional inactivation of PS1 in Wnt1 cell lineages results in congenital hydrocephalus and subcommissural organ abnormalities, suggesting a possible role of PS1 in the regulation of cerebrospinal fluid homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mitsunari Nakajima
- Department of Pharmaceutical Pharmacology, School of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Matsuyama University, 4-2 Bunkyo-cho, Matsuyama 790-8578, Ehime, Japan.
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98
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Kirabo A, Oh SP, Kasahara H, Wagner KU, Sayeski PP. Vascular smooth muscle Jak2 deletion prevents angiotensin II-mediated neointima formation following injury in mice. J Mol Cell Cardiol 2011; 50:1026-34. [PMID: 21420414 DOI: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2011.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2010] [Revised: 03/04/2011] [Accepted: 03/10/2011] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
The in vitro treatment of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) with angiotensin II (Ang II) causes Janus kinase 2 (Jak2) to interact with the Ang II type 1 receptor (AT(1)-R) resulting in enhanced cell growth. However, the role that Jak2 plays in AT(1)-R-mediated vascular cell growth and remodeling in vivo is less clear. We hypothesized that in vivo, Jak2 plays a rate-limiting role in Ang II-mediated neointima formation following vascular injury. Using the Cre-loxP system, we conditionally ablated Jak2 from the VSMC of mice. We found that these mice are protected from Ang II-mediated neointima formation following iron chloride-induced vascular injury. In addition, the VSMC Jak2 null mice were protected from injury-induced vascular fibrosis and the pathological loss of the contractile marker, smooth muscle α-actin. Finally, when compared to controls, the VSMC Jak2 null mice exhibited significantly less Ang II-induced VSMC proliferation and migration in vitro and in vivo and more apoptosis. These results suggest that Jak2 plays a central role in the causation of Ang II-induced neointima formation following vascular injury and may provide a novel target for the prevention of neointima formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annet Kirabo
- Department of Physiology and Functional Genomics, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
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99
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Xu L, Scheenen WJJM, Leshan RL, Patterson CM, Elias CF, Bouwhuis S, Roubos EW, Myers MG, Kozicz T. Leptin signaling modulates the activity of urocortin 1 neurons in the mouse nonpreganglionic Edinger-Westphal nucleus. Endocrinology 2011; 152:979-88. [PMID: 21209012 PMCID: PMC3040051 DOI: 10.1210/en.2010-1143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
A recent study systematically characterized the distribution of the long form of the leptin receptor (LepRb) in the mouse brain and showed substantial LepRb mRNA expression in the nonpreganglionic Edinger-Westphal nucleus (npEW) in the rostroventral part of the midbrain. This nucleus hosts the majority of urocortin 1 (Ucn1) neurons in the rodent brain, and because Ucn1 is a potent satiety hormone and electrical lesioning of the npEW strongly decreases food intake, we have hypothesized a role of npEW-Ucn1 neurons in leptin-controlled food intake. Here, we show by immunohistochemistry that npEW-Ucn1 neurons in the mouse contain LepRb and respond to leptin administration with induction of the Janus kinase 2-signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 pathway, both in vivo and in vitro. Furthermore, systemic leptin administration increases the Ucn1 content of the npEW significantly, whereas in mice that lack LepRb (db/db mice), the npEW contains considerably reduced amount of Ucn1. Finally, we reveal by patch clamping of midbrain Ucn1 neurons that leptin administration reduces the electrical firing activity of the Ucn1 neurons. In conclusion, we provide ample evidence for leptin actions that go beyond leptin's well-known targets in the hypothalamus and propose that leptin can directly influence the activity of the midbrain Ucn1 neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Xu
- Department of Cellular Animal Physiology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Nijmegen, 6500 GL Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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100
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Kirabo A, Kearns PN, Jarajapu YP, Sasser JM, Oh SP, Grant MB, Kasahara H, Cardounel AJ, Baylis C, Wagner KU, Sayeski PP. Vascular smooth muscle Jak2 mediates angiotensin II-induced hypertension via increased levels of reactive oxygen species. Cardiovasc Res 2011; 91:171-9. [PMID: 21354995 DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvr059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
AIMS Angiotensin II (Ang II) type AT(1) receptors expressed on vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) couple to the Jak2 signalling pathway. However, the importance of this tissue-specific coupling is poorly understood. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the importance of VSMC-derived Jak2 in angiotensin II-mediated hypertension. METHODS AND RESULTS The Cre-loxP system was used to conditionally eliminate Jak2 tyrosine kinase expression within the smooth muscle cells of mice. Following chronic Ang II infusion, the resulting increase in mean arterial pressure (MAP) was significantly attenuated in the Jak2 null mice when compared with littermate controls. The VSMC Jak2 null mice were also protected from the Ang II-induced vascular remodelling. Aortic rings from the VSMC Jak2 null mice exhibited reduced Ang II-induced contraction and enhanced endothelial-dependent relaxation via increased nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability. When compared with controls, the VSMC Jak2 nulls also had lower levels of hydrogen peroxide, Rho kinase activity, and intracellular Ca(2+) in response to Ang II. CONCLUSIONS The data indicate that VSMC Jak2 expression is involved in the pathogenesis of Ang II-dependent hypertension due to the increased presence of reactive oxygen species (ROS). As such, VSMC-derived Jak2 tyrosine kinase modulates overall vascular tone via multiple, non-redundant mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annet Kirabo
- Department of Physiology and Functional Genomics, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
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