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Kwon O, Yang H, Kim SC, Kim J, Sim J, Lee J, Hwang EM, Shim S, Park JY. TWIK-1 BAC-GFP Transgenic Mice, an Animal Model for TWIK-1 Expression. Cells 2021; 10:cells10102751. [PMID: 34685731 PMCID: PMC8534699 DOI: 10.3390/cells10102751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2021] [Revised: 09/26/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
TWIK-1 is the first identified member of the two-pore domain potassium (K2P) channels that are involved in neuronal excitability and astrocytic passive conductance in the brain. Despite the physiological roles of TWIK-1, there is still a lack of information on the basic expression patterns of TWIK-1 proteins in the brain. Here, using a modified bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC), we generated a transgenic mouse (Tg mouse) line expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) under the control of the TWIK-1 promoter (TWIK-1 BAC-GFP Tg mice). We confirmed that nearly all GFP-producing cells co-expressed endogenous TWIK-1 in the brain of TWIK-1 BAC-GFP Tg mice. GFP signals were highly expressed in various brain areas, including the dentate gyrus (DG), lateral entorhinal cortex (LEC), and cerebellum (Cb). In addition, we found that GFP signals were highly expressed in immature granule cells in the DG. Finally, our TWIK-1 BAC-GFP Tg mice mimic the upregulation of TWIK-1 mRNA expression in the hippocampus following the injection of kainic acid (KA). Our data clearly showed that TWIK-1 BAC-GFP Tg mice are a useful animal model for studying the mechanisms regulating TWIK-1 gene expression and the physiological roles of TWIK-1 channels in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Osung Kwon
- Department of Integrated Biomedical and Life Science, Graduate School, Jiyoun Lee Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea; (O.K.); (S.-C.K.); (J.K.); (J.S.); (J.L.)
| | - Hayoung Yang
- Department of Biochemistry, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Korea;
| | - Seung-Chan Kim
- Department of Integrated Biomedical and Life Science, Graduate School, Jiyoun Lee Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea; (O.K.); (S.-C.K.); (J.K.); (J.S.); (J.L.)
- Center for Functional Connectomics, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, Korea;
| | - Juhyun Kim
- Department of Integrated Biomedical and Life Science, Graduate School, Jiyoun Lee Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea; (O.K.); (S.-C.K.); (J.K.); (J.S.); (J.L.)
- BK21FOUR R&E Center for Learning Health Systems, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea
| | - Jaewon Sim
- Department of Integrated Biomedical and Life Science, Graduate School, Jiyoun Lee Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea; (O.K.); (S.-C.K.); (J.K.); (J.S.); (J.L.)
| | - Jiyoun Lee
- Department of Integrated Biomedical and Life Science, Graduate School, Jiyoun Lee Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea; (O.K.); (S.-C.K.); (J.K.); (J.S.); (J.L.)
- BK21FOUR R&E Center for Learning Health Systems, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea
| | - Eun-Mi Hwang
- Center for Functional Connectomics, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, Korea;
| | - Sungbo Shim
- Department of Biochemistry, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Korea;
- Correspondence: (S.S.); (J.-Y.P.)
| | - Jae-Yong Park
- Department of Integrated Biomedical and Life Science, Graduate School, Jiyoun Lee Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea; (O.K.); (S.-C.K.); (J.K.); (J.S.); (J.L.)
- Correspondence: (S.S.); (J.-Y.P.)
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2
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BAC transgenic mice to study the expression of P2X2 and P2Y 1 receptors. Purinergic Signal 2021; 17:449-465. [PMID: 34050505 PMCID: PMC8410928 DOI: 10.1007/s11302-021-09792-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Extracellular purines are important signaling molecules involved in numerous physiological and pathological processes via the activation of P2 receptors. Information about the spatial and temporal P2 receptor (P2R) expression and its regulation remains crucial for the understanding of the role of P2Rs in health and disease. To identify cells carrying P2X2Rs in situ, we have generated BAC transgenic mice that express the P2X2R subunits as fluorescent fusion protein (P2X2-TagRFP). In addition, we generated a BAC P2Y1R TagRFP reporter mouse expressing a TagRFP reporter for the P2RY1 gene expression. We demonstrate expression of the P2X2R in a subset of DRG neurons, the brain stem, the hippocampus, as well as on Purkinje neurons of the cerebellum. However, the weak fluorescence intensity in our P2X2R-TagRFP mouse precluded tracking of living cells. Our P2Y1R reporter mice confirmed the widespread expression of the P2RY1 gene in the CNS and indicate for the first time P2RY1 gene expression in mouse Purkinje cells, which so far has only been described in rats and humans. Our P2R transgenic models have advanced the understanding of purinergic transmission, but BAC transgenic models appeared not always to be straightforward and permanent reliable. We noticed a loss of fluorescence intensity, which depended on the number of progeny generations. These problems are discussed and may help to provide more successful animal models, even if in future more versatile and adaptable nuclease-mediated genome-editing techniques will be the methods of choice.
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3
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Almeida MP, Welker JM, Siddiqui S, Luiken J, Ekker SC, Clark KJ, Essner JJ, McGrail M. Endogenous zebrafish proneural Cre drivers generated by CRISPR/Cas9 short homology directed targeted integration. Sci Rep 2021; 11:1732. [PMID: 33462297 PMCID: PMC7813866 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-81239-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2020] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
We previously reported efficient precision targeted integration of reporter DNA in zebrafish and human cells using CRISPR/Cas9 and short regions of homology. Here, we apply this strategy to isolate zebrafish Cre recombinase drivers whose spatial and temporal restricted expression mimics endogenous genes. A 2A-Cre recombinase transgene with 48 bp homology arms was targeted into proneural genes ascl1b, olig2 and neurod1. We observed high rates of germline transmission ranging from 10 to 100% (2/20 olig2; 1/5 neurod1; 3/3 ascl1b). The transgenic lines Tg(ascl1b-2A-Cre)is75, Tg(olig2-2A-Cre)is76, and Tg(neurod1-2A-Cre)is77 expressed functional Cre recombinase in the expected proneural cell populations. Somatic targeting of 2A-CreERT2 into neurod1 resulted in tamoxifen responsive recombination in the nervous system. The results demonstrate Cre recombinase expression is driven by the native promoter and regulatory elements of the targeted genes. This approach provides a straightforward, efficient, and cost-effective method to generate cell type specific zebrafish Cre and CreERT2 drivers, overcoming challenges associated with promoter-BAC and transposon mediated transgenics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maira P Almeida
- Department of Genetics, Development and Cell Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA.,Genetics and Genomics Interdepartmental Graduate Program, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Jordan M Welker
- Department of Genetics, Development and Cell Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA.,Genetics and Genomics Interdepartmental Graduate Program, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA.,Department III - Developmental Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany
| | - Sahiba Siddiqui
- Department of Genetics, Development and Cell Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA.,Genetics and Genomics Interdepartmental Graduate Program, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Jon Luiken
- Department of Genetics, Development and Cell Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Stephen C Ekker
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Karl J Clark
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Jeffrey J Essner
- Department of Genetics, Development and Cell Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA.,Genetics and Genomics Interdepartmental Graduate Program, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Maura McGrail
- Department of Genetics, Development and Cell Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA. .,Genetics and Genomics Interdepartmental Graduate Program, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA.
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4
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Voglsanger LM, Read J, Ch'ng SS, Zhang C, Eraslan IM, Gray L, Rivera LR, Hamilton LD, Williams R, Gundlach AL, Smith CM. Differential Level of RXFP3 Expression in Dopaminergic Neurons Within the Arcuate Nucleus, Dorsomedial Hypothalamus and Ventral Tegmental Area of RXFP3-Cre/tdTomato Mice. Front Neurosci 2021; 14:594818. [PMID: 33584175 PMCID: PMC7873962 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.594818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
RXFP3 (relaxin-family peptide 3 receptor) is the cognate G-protein-coupled receptor for the neuropeptide, relaxin-3. RXFP3 is expressed widely throughout the brain, including the hypothalamus, where it has been shown to modulate feeding behavior and neuroendocrine activity in rodents. In order to better characterize its potential mechanisms of action, this study determined whether RXFP3 is expressed by dopaminergic neurons within the arcuate nucleus (ARC) and dorsomedial hypothalamus (DMH), in addition to the ventral tegmental area (VTA). Neurons that express RXFP3 were visualized in coronal brain sections from RXFP3-Cre/tdTomato mice, which express the tdTomato fluorophore within RXFP3-positive cells, and dopaminergic neurons in these areas were visualized by simultaneous immunohistochemical detection of tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactivity (TH-IR). Approximately 20% of ARC neurons containing TH-IR coexpressed tdTomato fluorescence, suggesting that RXFP3 can influence the dopamine pathway from the ARC to the pituitary gland that controls prolactin release. The ability of prolactin to reduce leptin sensitivity and increase food consumption therefore represents a potential mechanism by which RXFP3 activation influences feeding. A similar proportion of DMH neurons containing TH-IR expressed RXFP3-related tdTomato fluorescence, consistent with a possible RXFP3-mediated regulation of stress and neuroendocrine circuits. In contrast, RXFP3 was barely detected within the VTA. TdTomato signal was absent from the ARC and DMH in sections from Rosa26-tdTomato mice, suggesting that the cells identified in RXFP3-Cre/tdTomato mice expressed authentic RXFP3-related tdTomato fluorescence. Together, these findings identify potential hypothalamic mechanisms through which RXFP3 influences neuroendocrine control of metabolism, and further highlight the therapeutic potential of targeting RXFP3 in feeding-related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara M Voglsanger
- Faculty of Health, School of Medicine, Institute for Innovation in Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, VIC, Australia
| | - Justin Read
- Faculty of Health, School of Medicine, Institute for Innovation in Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, VIC, Australia
| | - Sarah S Ch'ng
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Cary Zhang
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Izel M Eraslan
- Faculty of Health, School of Medicine, Institute for Innovation in Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, VIC, Australia
| | - Laura Gray
- Faculty of Health, School of Medicine, Institute for Innovation in Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, VIC, Australia
| | - Leni R Rivera
- Faculty of Health, School of Medicine, Institute for Innovation in Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, VIC, Australia
| | - Lee D Hamilton
- Faculty of Health, School of Exercise and Nutritional Science, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, VIC, Australia
| | - Richard Williams
- Faculty of Health, School of Medicine, Institute for Innovation in Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, VIC, Australia
| | - Andrew L Gundlach
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Craig M Smith
- Faculty of Health, School of Medicine, Institute for Innovation in Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, VIC, Australia
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5
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Deviant reporter expression and P2X4 passenger gene overexpression in the soluble EGFP BAC transgenic P2X7 reporter mouse model. Sci Rep 2020; 10:19876. [PMID: 33199725 PMCID: PMC7669894 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-76428-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 10/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The ATP-gated P2X7 receptor is highly expressed in microglia and has been involved in diverse brain diseases. P2X7 effects were also described in neurons and astrocytes but its localisation and function in these cell types has been challenging to demonstrate in situ. BAC transgenic mouse lines have greatly advanced neuroscience research and two BAC-transgenic P2X7 reporter mouse models exist in which either a soluble EGFP (sEGFP) or an EGFP-tagged P2X7 receptor (P2X7-EGFP) is expressed under the control of a BAC-derived P2rx7 promoter. Here we evaluate both mouse models and find striking differences in both P2X expression levels and EGFP reporter expression patterns. Most remarkably, the sEGFP model overexpresses a P2X4 passenger gene and sEGFP shows clear neuronal localisation but appears to be absent in microglia. Preliminary functional analysis in a status epilepticus model suggests functional consequences of the observed P2X receptor overexpression. In summary, an aberrant EGFP reporter pattern and possible effects of P2X4 and/or P2X7 protein overexpression need to be considered when working with this model. We further discuss reasons for the observed differences and possible caveats in BAC transgenic approaches.
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6
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Hu NY, Chen YT, Wang Q, Jie W, Liu YS, You QL, Li ZL, Li XW, Reibel S, Pfrieger FW, Yang JM, Gao TM. Expression Patterns of Inducible Cre Recombinase Driven by Differential Astrocyte-Specific Promoters in Transgenic Mouse Lines. Neurosci Bull 2019; 36:530-544. [PMID: 31828740 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-019-00451-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2019] [Accepted: 09/19/2019] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Astrocytes are the most abundant cell type in the central nervous system (CNS). They provide trophic support for neurons, modulate synaptic transmission and plasticity, and contribute to neuronal dysfunction. Many transgenic mouse lines have been generated to obtain astrocyte-specific expression of inducible Cre recombinase for functional studies; however, the expression patterns of inducible Cre recombinase in these lines have not been systematically characterized. We generated a new astrocyte-specific Aldh1l1-CreERT2 knock-in mouse line and compared the expression pattern of Cre recombinase between this and five widely-used transgenic lines (hGfap-CreERT2 from The Jackson Laboratory and The Mutant Mouse Resource and Research Center, Glast-CreERT2, Cx30-CreERT2, and Fgfr3-iCreERT2) by crossing with Ai14 mice, which express tdTomato fluorescence following Cre-mediated recombination. In adult Aldh1l1-CreERT2:Ai14 transgenic mice, tdTomato was detected throughout the CNS, and five novel morphologically-defined types of astrocyte were described. Among the six evaluated lines, the specificity of Cre-mediated recombination was highest when driven by Aldh1l1 and lowest when driven by hGfap; in the latter mice, co-staining between tdTomato and NeuN was observed in the hippocampus and cortex. Notably, evident leakage was noted in Fgfr3-iCreERT2 mice, and the expression level of tdTomato was low in the thalamus when Cre recombinase expression was driven by Glast and in the capsular part of the central amygdaloid nucleus when driven by Cx30. Furthermore, tdTomato was clearly expressed in peripheral organs in four of the lines. Our results emphasize that the astrocyte-specific CreERT2 transgenic lines used in functional studies should be carefully selected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neng-Yuan Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Psychiatric Disorders, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Ya-Ting Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Psychiatric Disorders, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Qian Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Psychiatric Disorders, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Wei Jie
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Psychiatric Disorders, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Yi-Si Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Psychiatric Disorders, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Qiang-Long You
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Psychiatric Disorders, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Ze-Lin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Psychiatric Disorders, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Xiao-Wen Li
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Psychiatric Disorders, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Sophie Reibel
- Chronobiotron - UMS 3415, University of Strasbourg, 67084, Strasbourg, France
| | - Frank W Pfrieger
- Institute of Cellular and Integrative Neurosciences, CNRS UPR 3212, University of Strasbourg, 67084, Strasbourg, France
| | - Jian-Ming Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Psychiatric Disorders, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China.
| | - Tian-Ming Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Psychiatric Disorders, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China.
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7
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Tian X, Richard A, El-Saadi MW, Bhandari A, Latimer B, Van Savage I, Holmes K, Klein RL, Dwyer D, Goeders NE, Yang XW, Lu XH. Dosage sensitivity intolerance of VIPR2 microduplication is disease causative to manifest schizophrenia-like phenotypes in a novel BAC transgenic mouse model. Mol Psychiatry 2019; 24:1884-1901. [PMID: 31444475 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-019-0492-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2018] [Revised: 06/08/2019] [Accepted: 06/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Recent genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified copy number variations (CNVs) at chromosomal locus 7q36.3 that significantly contribute to the risk of schizophrenia, with all of the microduplications occurring within a single gene: vasoactive intestinal peptide receptor 2 (VIPR2). To confirm disease causality and translate such a genetic vulnerability into mechanistic and pathophysiological insights, we have developed a series of conditional VIPR2 bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) transgenic mouse models of VIPR2 CNV. VIPR2 CNV mouse model recapitulates gene expression and signaling deficits seen in human CNV carriers. VIPR2 microduplication in mice elicits prominent dorsal striatal dopamine dysfunction, cognitive, sensorimotor gating, and social behavioral deficits preceded by an increase of striatal cAMP/PKA signaling and the disrupted early postnatal striatal development. Genetic removal of VIPR2 transgene expression via crossing with Drd1a-Cre BAC transgenic mice rescued the dopamine D2 receptor abnormality and multiple behavioral deficits, implicating a pathogenic role of VIPR2 overexpression in dopaminoceptive neurons. Thus, our results provide further evidence to support the GWAS studies that the dosage sensitivity intolerance of VIPR2 is disease causative to manifest schizophrenia-like dopamine, cognitive, and social behavioral deficits in mice. The conditional BAC transgenesis offers a novel strategy to model CNVs with a gain-of -copies and facilitate the genetic dissection of when/where/how the genetic vulnerabilities affect development, structure, and function of neural circuits. Our findings have important implications for therapeutic development, and the etiology-relevant mouse model provides a useful preclinical platform for drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinli Tian
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Neuroscience, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA, 71130, USA
| | - Adam Richard
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Neuroscience, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA, 71130, USA
| | - Madison Wynne El-Saadi
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Neuroscience, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA, 71130, USA
| | - Aakriti Bhandari
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Neuroscience, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA, 71130, USA
| | - Brian Latimer
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Neuroscience, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA, 71130, USA
| | - Isabella Van Savage
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Neuroscience, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA, 71130, USA
| | - Kevlyn Holmes
- California Lutheran University, Thousand Oaks, CA, USA
| | - Ronald L Klein
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Neuroscience, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA, 71130, USA
| | - Donard Dwyer
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Neuroscience, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA, 71130, USA
| | - Nicholas E Goeders
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Neuroscience, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA, 71130, USA
| | - X William Yang
- Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Human Behaviors, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Xiao-Hong Lu
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Neuroscience, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA, 71130, USA.
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Johnson BA, Coutts M, Vo HM, Hao X, Fatima N, Rivera MJ, Sims RJ, Neel MJ, Kang YJ, Monuki ES. Accurate, strong, and stable reporting of choroid plexus epithelial cells in transgenic mice using a human transthyretin BAC. Fluids Barriers CNS 2018; 15:22. [PMID: 30111340 PMCID: PMC6094443 DOI: 10.1186/s12987-018-0107-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2018] [Accepted: 07/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Choroid plexus epithelial cells express high levels of transthyretin, produce cerebrospinal fluid and many of its proteins, and make up the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier. Choroid plexus epithelial cells are vital to brain health and may be involved in neurological diseases. Transgenic mice containing fluorescent and luminescent reporters of these cells would facilitate their study in health and disease, but prior transgenic reporters lost expression over the early postnatal period. METHODS Human bacterial artificial chromosomes in which the transthyretin coding sequence was replaced with DNA for tdTomato or luciferase 2 were used in pronuclear injections to produce transgenic mice. These mice were characterized by visualizing red fluorescence, immunostaining, real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, and luciferase enzyme assay. RESULTS Reporters were faithfully expressed in cells that express transthyretin constitutively, including choroid plexus epithelial cells, retinal pigment epithelium, pancreatic islets, and liver. Expression of tdTomato in choroid plexus began at the appropriate embryonic age, being detectable by E11.5. Relative levels of tdTomato transcript in the liver and choroid plexus paralleled relative levels of transcripts for transthyretin. Expression remained robust over the first postnatal year, although choroid plexus transcripts of tdTomato declined slightly with age whereas transthyretin remained constant. TdTomato expression patterns were consistent across three founder lines, displayed no sex differences, and were stable across several generations. Two of the tdTomato lines were bred to homozygosity, and homozygous mice are healthy and fertile. The usefulness of tdTomato reporters in visualizing and analyzing live Transwell cultures was demonstrated. Luciferase activity was very high in homogenates of choroid plexus and continued to be expressed through adulthood. Luciferase also was detectable in eye and pancreas. CONCLUSIONS Transgenic mice bearing fluorescent and luminescent reporters of transthyretin should prove useful for tracking transplanted choroid plexus epithelial cells, for purifying the cells, and for reporting their derivation from stem cells. They also should prove useful for studying transthyretin synthesis by other cell types, as transthyretin has been implicated in many functions and conditions, including clearance of β-amyloid peptides associated with Alzheimer's disease, heat shock in neurons, processing of neuropeptides, nerve regeneration, astrocyte metabolism, and transthyretin amyloidosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brett A Johnson
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UC Irvine, Irvine, USA.,Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, UC Irvine, Irvine, USA
| | - Margaret Coutts
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UC Irvine, Irvine, USA.,Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, UC Irvine, Irvine, USA
| | - Hillary M Vo
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UC Irvine, Irvine, USA.,Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, UC Irvine, Irvine, USA
| | - Xinya Hao
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UC Irvine, Irvine, USA.,Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, UC Irvine, Irvine, USA
| | - Nida Fatima
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UC Irvine, Irvine, USA.,Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, UC Irvine, Irvine, USA
| | - Maria J Rivera
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Long Beach, USA
| | - Robert J Sims
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Long Beach, USA
| | - Michael J Neel
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UC Irvine, Irvine, USA.,Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, UC Irvine, Irvine, USA
| | - Young-Jin Kang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UC Irvine, Irvine, USA.,Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, UC Irvine, Irvine, USA
| | - Edwin S Monuki
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UC Irvine, Irvine, USA. .,Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, UC Irvine, Irvine, USA. .,Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, UC Irvine, Irvine, USA.
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9
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Ito Y, Noguchi K, Morishima Y, Yamaguchi K. Generation and characterization of tissue-type plasminogen activator transgenic rats. J Thromb Thrombolysis 2018; 45:77-87. [PMID: 29168147 PMCID: PMC5756269 DOI: 10.1007/s11239-017-1582-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
To address a species difference in the responsiveness to human recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (rt-PA) between rats and humans, tPA transgenic (Tg) rats were generated and characterized. In the rats, transcriptional regulation of tPA was designed under the control of the endogenous tPA promoter. There were no significant differences in hematological parameters between the tPA Tg and non Tg rats. Plasma tPA concentration was significantly increased and serum free PAI-1 was significantly decreased in the tPA Tg rats. Significant overexpression of tPA mRNA in five major organs was also confirmed in the tPA Tg rats. In contrast, the extent of tPA mRNA induction by pathophysiological stimuli (focal cerebral ischemia) was comparable in the two strains. Earlier increase in the plasma D-Dimer level was observed in the tPA Tg rats in a model of thromboembolism compared with the non Tg rats. On the other hand, there was no statistically significant prolongation of bleeding time in a rat model of bleeding between the two strains. rt-PA showed dose-related blood flow restoration in a rat model of thromboembolic stroke in the tPA Tg rats from a dose (1 mg/kg, i.v.) similar to clinical doses for human stroke patients. In conclusion, tPA Tg rats, in which tPA is overexpressed and endogenous fibrinolytic activity is enhanced without hemostatic abnormality, were generated. tPA Tg rats would be beneficial for the pharmacological and the toxicological evaluation of rt-PA and other various fibrinolytic enhancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yusuke Ito
- Rare Disease & LCM Laboratories, Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd., 1-2-58 Hiromachi, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, 140-8710, Japan.
| | - Kengo Noguchi
- Pharmacovigilance Department, Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan
| | | | - Kyoji Yamaguchi
- Rare Disease & LCM Laboratories, Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd., 1-2-58 Hiromachi, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, 140-8710, Japan
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10
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Kaczmarek-Hajek K, Zhang J, Kopp R, Grosche A, Rissiek B, Saul A, Bruzzone S, Engel T, Jooss T, Krautloher A, Schuster S, Magnus T, Stadelmann C, Sirko S, Koch-Nolte F, Eulenburg V, Nicke A. Re-evaluation of neuronal P2X7 expression using novel mouse models and a P2X7-specific nanobody. eLife 2018; 7:36217. [PMID: 30074479 PMCID: PMC6140716 DOI: 10.7554/elife.36217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 111] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2018] [Accepted: 07/31/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The P2X7 channel is involved in the pathogenesis of various CNS diseases. An increasing number of studies suggest its presence in neurons where its putative functions remain controversial for more than a decade. To resolve this issue and to provide a model for analysis of P2X7 functions, we generated P2X7 BAC transgenic mice that allow visualization of functional EGFP-tagged P2X7 receptors in vivo. Extensive characterization of these mice revealed dominant P2X7-EGFP protein expression in microglia, Bergmann glia, and oligodendrocytes, but not in neurons. These findings were further validated by microglia- and oligodendrocyte-specific P2X7 deletion and a novel P2X7-specific nanobody. In addition to the first quantitative analysis of P2X7 protein expression in the CNS, we show potential consequences of its overexpression in ischemic retina and post-traumatic cerebral cortex grey matter. This novel mouse model overcomes previous limitations in P2X7 research and will help to determine its physiological roles and contribution to diseases. The human body relies on a molecule called ATP as an energy source and as a messenger. When cells die, for example if they are damaged or because of inflammation, they release large amounts of ATP into their environment. Their neighbors can detect the outpouring of ATP through specific receptors, the proteins that sit at the cell’s surface and can bind external agents. Scientists believe that one of these ATP-binding receptors, P2X7, responds to high levels of ATP by triggering a cascade of reactions that results in inflammation and cell death. P2X7 also seems to play a role in several brain diseases such as epilepsia and Alzheimer’s, but the exact mechanisms are not known. In particular, how this receptor is involved in the death of neurons is unclear, and researchers still debate whether P2X7 is present in neurons and in other types of brain cells. To answer this, Kaczmarek-Hájek, Zhang, Kopp et al. created genetically modified mice in which the P2X7 receptors carry a fluorescent dye. Powerful microscopes can pick up the light signal from the dye and help to reveal which cells have the receptors. These experiments show that neurons do not carry the protein; instead, P2X7 is present in certain brain cells that keep the neurons healthy. For example, it is found in the immune cells that ‘clean up’ the organ, and the cells that support and insulate neurons. Kaczmarek-Hájek et al. further provide preliminary data suggesting that, under certain conditions, if too many P2X7 receptors are present in these cells neuronal damage might be increased. It is therefore possible that the brain cells that carry P2X7 indirectly contribute to the death of neurons when large amounts of ATP are released. The genetically engineered mouse designed for the experiments could be used in further studies to dissect the role that P2X7 plays in diseases of the nervous system. In particular, this mouse model might help to understand whether the receptor could become a drug target for neurodegenerative conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karina Kaczmarek-Hajek
- Department of Molecular Biology of Neuronal Signals, Max Planck Institute for Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Jiong Zhang
- Department of Molecular Biology of Neuronal Signals, Max Planck Institute for Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany.,Walther Straub Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Robin Kopp
- Walther Straub Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Antje Grosche
- Institute for Human Genetics, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.,Department of Physiological Genomics, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, München, Germany
| | - Björn Rissiek
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Anika Saul
- Department of Molecular Biology of Neuronal Signals, Max Planck Institute for Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Santina Bruzzone
- Department of Experimental Medicine and CEBR, University of Genova, Genova, Italy
| | - Tobias Engel
- Department of Physiology and Medical Physics, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Tina Jooss
- Walther Straub Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Anna Krautloher
- Walther Straub Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Stefanie Schuster
- Institute of Biochemistry, University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Tim Magnus
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | | | - Swetlana Sirko
- Department of Physiological Genomics, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, München, Germany.,Institute of Stem Cell Research, Helmholtz Center Munich, German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Friedrich Koch-Nolte
- Department of Immunology, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Volker Eulenburg
- Institute of Biochemistry, University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.,Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Therapy, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Annette Nicke
- Department of Molecular Biology of Neuronal Signals, Max Planck Institute for Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany.,Walther Straub Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
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11
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LRRK2 mouse models: dissecting the behavior, striatal neurochemistry and neurophysiology of PD pathogenesis. Biochem Soc Trans 2017; 45:113-122. [PMID: 28202664 DOI: 10.1042/bst20160238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2016] [Revised: 10/21/2016] [Accepted: 10/25/2016] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Mutations in leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) are the most common genetic cause of familial Parkinson's disease (PD), resembling the sporadic disorder. Intensive effort has been directed toward LRRK2 mouse modeling and investigation, aimed at reproducing the human disease to inform mechanistic studies of pathogenesis and design of neuroprotective therapies. The physiological function of LRRK2 is still under exploration, but a clear role in striatal neurophysiology and animal behavior has emerged. Alterations in LRRK2 impair dopamine (DA) transmission, regulation and signaling, in addition to corticostriatal synaptic plasticity. Consistently, several subtle abnormalities in motor and nonmotor abilities have been demonstrated in LRRK2 genetic mouse models, generally paralleling preclinical symptoms of early DA dysfunction. However, the variability in model design and phenotypes observed requires a critical approach in interpreting the results, adapting the model used to the specific research question. Etiologically appropriate knockin mice might represent the ultimate animal model in which to study early disease mechanisms and therapies as well as to investigate drug effectiveness and off-target consequences.
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12
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Srinivasan R, Lu TY, Chai H, Xu J, Huang BS, Golshani P, Coppola G, Khakh BS. New Transgenic Mouse Lines for Selectively Targeting Astrocytes and Studying Calcium Signals in Astrocyte Processes In Situ and In Vivo. Neuron 2016; 92:1181-1195. [PMID: 27939582 PMCID: PMC5403514 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2016.11.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 267] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2016] [Revised: 10/14/2016] [Accepted: 11/15/2016] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Astrocytes exist throughout the nervous system and are proposed to affect neural circuits and behavior. However, studying astrocytes has proven difficult because of the lack of tools permitting astrocyte-selective genetic manipulations. Here, we report the generation of Aldh1l1-Cre/ERT2 transgenic mice to selectively target astrocytes in vivo. We characterized Aldh1l1-Cre/ERT2 mice using imaging, immunohistochemistry, AAV-FLEX-GFP microinjections, and crosses to RiboTag, Ai95, and new Cre-dependent membrane-tethered Lck-GCaMP6f knockin mice that we also generated. Two to three weeks after tamoxifen induction, Aldh1l1-Cre/ERT2 selectively targeted essentially all adult (P80) brain astrocytes with no detectable neuronal contamination, resulting in expression of cytosolic and Lck-GCaMP6f, and permitting subcellular astrocyte calcium imaging during startle responses in vivo. Crosses with RiboTag mice allowed sequencing of actively translated mRNAs and determination of the adult cortical astrocyte transcriptome. Thus, we provide well-characterized, easy-to-use resources with which to selectively study astrocytes in situ and in vivo in multiple experimental scenarios.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rahul Srinivasan
- Department of Physiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1751, USA
| | - Tsai-Yi Lu
- Department of Physiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1751, USA
| | - Hua Chai
- Department of Physiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1751, USA
| | - Ji Xu
- Department of Physiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1751, USA
| | - Ben S Huang
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1751, USA
| | - Peyman Golshani
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1751, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1751, USA; Integrative Center for Learning and Memory, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1751, USA; West Los Angeles VA Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90073, USA
| | - Giovanni Coppola
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1751, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1751, USA; Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1751, USA
| | - Baljit S Khakh
- Department of Physiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1751, USA; Department of Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1751, USA.
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13
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Linan-Rico A, Ochoa-Cortes F, Beyder A, Soghomonyan S, Zuleta-Alarcon A, Coppola V, Christofi FL. Mechanosensory Signaling in Enterochromaffin Cells and 5-HT Release: Potential Implications for Gut Inflammation. Front Neurosci 2016; 10:564. [PMID: 28066160 PMCID: PMC5165017 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2016.00564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2016] [Accepted: 11/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Enterochromaffin (EC) cells synthesize 95% of the body 5-HT and release 5-HT in response to mechanical or chemical stimulation. EC cell 5-HT has physiological effects on gut motility, secretion and visceral sensation. Abnormal regulation of 5-HT occurs in gastrointestinal disorders and Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD) where 5-HT may represent a key player in the pathogenesis of intestinal inflammation. The focus of this review is on mechanism(s) involved in EC cell "mechanosensation" and critical gaps in our knowledge for future research. Much of our knowledge and concepts are from a human BON cell model of EC, although more recent work has included other cell lines, native EC cells from mouse and human and intact mucosa. EC cells are "mechanosensors" that respond to physical forces generated during peristaltic activity by translating the mechanical stimulus (MS) into an intracellular biochemical response leading to 5-HT and ATP release. The emerging picture of mechanosensation includes Piezo 2 channels, caveolin-rich microdomains, and tight regulation of 5-HT release by purines. The "purinergic hypothesis" is that MS releases purines to act in an autocrine/paracrine manner to activate excitatory (P2Y1, P2Y4, P2Y6, and A2A/A2B) or inhibitory (P2Y12, A1, and A3) receptors to regulate 5-HT release. MS activates a P2Y1/Gαq/PLC/IP3-IP3R/SERCA Ca2+signaling pathway, an A2A/A2B-Gs/AC/cAMP-PKA signaling pathway, an ATP-gated P2X3 channel, and an inhibitory P2Y12-Gi/o/AC-cAMP pathway. In human IBD, P2X3 is down regulated and A2B is up regulated in EC cells, but the pathophysiological consequences of abnormal mechanosensory or purinergic 5-HT signaling remain unknown. EC cell mechanosensation remains poorly understood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andromeda Linan-Rico
- Department of Anesthesiology, Wexner Medical Center at Ohio State UniversityColumbus, OH, USA; CONACYT-Centro Universitario de Investigaciones Biomedicas, University of ColimaColima, Mexico
| | - Fernando Ochoa-Cortes
- Department of Anesthesiology, Wexner Medical Center at Ohio State University Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Arthur Beyder
- Enteric Neuroscience Program, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Suren Soghomonyan
- Department of Anesthesiology, Wexner Medical Center at Ohio State University Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Alix Zuleta-Alarcon
- Department of Anesthesiology, Wexner Medical Center at Ohio State University Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Vincenzo Coppola
- SBS-Cancer Biology and Genetics, Ohio State University Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Fievos L Christofi
- Department of Anesthesiology, Wexner Medical Center at Ohio State University Columbus, OH, USA
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14
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Chiang YJ, Hodes RJ. T-cell development is regulated by the coordinated function of proximal and distal Lck promoters active at different developmental stages. Eur J Immunol 2016; 46:2401-2408. [PMID: 27469439 DOI: 10.1002/eji.201646440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2016] [Revised: 07/05/2016] [Accepted: 07/26/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Expression of Lck, a T-cell lineage-specific tyrosine kinase critical for T-cell development and activation, can be mediated by either proximal or distal lck promoter. We generated BAC transgenic mice in which BAC lck promoter was deleted and bred these transgenes to an Lck knockout background. Lck-PROX mice, in which only the proximal promoter is functional, have maximal Lck protein and normal thymic development through CD4- CD8- double negative (DN) and CD4+ CD8+ double positive (DP) stages, but undetectable Lck later in development and reduced mature single positive thymocytes. In contrast, Lck-DIST mice, in which only distal promoter was functional, are deficient in Lck protein in DN and DP thymocytes and severely defective in early T-cell development, with a block at the DN3-DN4 beta checkpoint equivalent to complete Lck knockouts. The ability of the proximal lck promoter to support thymic development is independent of Fyn; while, in contrast, the distal lck promoter alone is completely unable to support development in the absence of Fyn. Notably, normal thymocyte development is restored by presence of both proximal and distal promoters, even when independently expressed on different lck genes. These results define distinct and complementary requirements for proximal and distal lck promoters during T-cell development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Jeffrey Chiang
- Experimental Immunology Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Richard J Hodes
- Experimental Immunology Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA. .,National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
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15
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Xu J, Bernstein AM, Wong A, Lu XH, Khoja S, Yang XW, Davies DL, Micevych P, Sofroniew MV, Khakh BS. P2X4 Receptor Reporter Mice: Sparse Brain Expression and Feeding-Related Presynaptic Facilitation in the Arcuate Nucleus. J Neurosci 2016; 36:8902-20. [PMID: 27559172 PMCID: PMC4995303 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1496-16.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2016] [Revised: 06/17/2016] [Accepted: 06/20/2016] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED P2X4 receptors are ATP-gated cation channels that are widely expressed in the nervous system. To identify P2X4 receptor-expressing cells, we generated BAC transgenic mice expressing tdTomato under the control of the P2X4 receptor gene (P2rx4). We found sparse populations of tdTomato-positive neurons in most brain areas with patterns that matched P2X4 mRNA distribution. tdTomato expression within microglia was low but was increased by an experimental manipulation that triggered microglial activation. We found surprisingly high tdTomato expression in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (Arc) (i.e., within parts of the neural circuitry controlling feeding). Immunohistochemistry and genetic crosses of P2rx4 tdTomato mice with cell-specific GFP reporter lines showed that the tdTomato-expressing cells were mainly AgRP-NPY neurons and tanycytes. There was no electrophysiological evidence for functional expression of P2X4 receptors on AgRP-NPY neuron somata, but instead, we found clear evidence for functional presynaptic P2X4 receptor-mediated responses in terminals of AgRP-NPY neurons onto two of their postsynaptic targets (Arc POMC and paraventricular nucleus neurons), where ATP dramatically facilitated GABA release. The presynaptic responses onto POMC neurons, and the expression of tdTomato in AgRP-NPY neurons and tanycytes, were significantly decreased by food deprivation in male mice in a manner that was partially reversed by the satiety-related peptide leptin. Overall, we provide well-characterized tdTomato reporter mice to study P2X4-expressing cells in the brain, new insights on feeding-related regulation of presynaptic P2X4 receptor responses, and the rationale to explore extracellular ATP signaling in the control of feeding behaviors. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Cells expressing ATP-gated P2X4 receptors have proven problematic to identify and study in brain slice preparations because P2X4 expression is sparse. To address this limitation, we generated and characterized BAC transgenic P2rx4 tdTomato reporter mice. We report the distribution of tdTomato-expressing cells throughout the brain and particularly strong expression in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus. Together, our studies provide a new, well-characterized tool with which to study P2X4 receptor-expressing cells. The electrophysiological studies enabled by this mouse suggest previously unanticipated roles for ATP and P2X4 receptors in the neural circuitry controlling feeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji Xu
- Departments of Physiology and
| | - Alexander M Bernstein
- Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095
| | - Angela Wong
- Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095
| | - Xiao-Hong Lu
- Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095
| | - Sheraz Khoja
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089
| | - X William Yang
- Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, and
| | - Daryl L Davies
- Titus Family Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089
| | - Paul Micevych
- Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095
| | - Michael V Sofroniew
- Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095
| | - Baljit S Khakh
- Departments of Physiology and Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095,
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16
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McArdle S, Mikulski Z, Ley K. Live cell imaging to understand monocyte, macrophage, and dendritic cell function in atherosclerosis. J Exp Med 2016; 213:1117-31. [PMID: 27270892 PMCID: PMC4925021 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20151885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2015] [Accepted: 04/28/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Ley et al. provide a review of the technology and accomplishments of dynamic imaging of myeloid cells in atherosclerosis. Intravital imaging is an invaluable tool for understanding the function of cells in healthy and diseased tissues. It provides a window into dynamic processes that cannot be studied by other techniques. This review will cover the benefits and limitations of various techniques for labeling and imaging myeloid cells, with a special focus on imaging cells in atherosclerotic arteries. Although intravital imaging is a powerful tool for understanding cell function, it alone does not provide a complete picture of the cell. Other techniques, such as flow cytometry and transcriptomics, must be combined with intravital imaging to fully understand a cell's phenotype, lineage, and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara McArdle
- Division of Inflammation Biology and Microscopy Core, La Jolla Institute of Allergy and Immunology, La Jolla, CA 92037
| | - Zbigniew Mikulski
- Division of Inflammation Biology and Microscopy Core, La Jolla Institute of Allergy and Immunology, La Jolla, CA 92037
| | - Klaus Ley
- Division of Inflammation Biology and Microscopy Core, La Jolla Institute of Allergy and Immunology, La Jolla, CA 92037
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17
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A Plasmid Set for Efficient Bacterial Artificial Chromosome (BAC) Transgenesis in Zebrafish. G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS 2016; 6:829-34. [PMID: 26818072 PMCID: PMC4825653 DOI: 10.1534/g3.115.026344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Transgenesis of large DNA constructs is essential for gene function analysis. Recently, Tol2 transposase-mediated transgenesis has emerged as a powerful tool to insert bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) DNA constructs into the genome of zebrafish. For efficient transgenesis, the genomic DNA piece in the BAC construct needs to be flanked by Tol2 transposon sites, and the constructs should contain a transgenesis marker for easy identification of transgenic animals. We report a set of plasmids that contain targeting cassettes that allow the insertion of Tol2 sites and different transgenesis markers into BACs. Using BACs containing these targeting cassettes, we show that transgenesis is as efficient as iTol2, that preselecting for expression of the transgenesis marker increases the transgenesis rate, and that BAC transgenics faithfully recapitulate the endogenous gene expression patterns and allow for the estimation of the endogenous gene expression levels.
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18
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Oguro-Ando A, Rosensweig C, Herman E, Nishimura Y, Werling D, Bill BR, Berg JM, Gao F, Coppola G, Abrahams BS, Geschwind DH. Increased CYFIP1 dosage alters cellular and dendritic morphology and dysregulates mTOR. Mol Psychiatry 2015; 20:1069-78. [PMID: 25311365 PMCID: PMC4409498 DOI: 10.1038/mp.2014.124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2014] [Revised: 07/18/2014] [Accepted: 08/21/2014] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Rare maternally inherited duplications at 15q11-13 are observed in ~1% of individuals with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), making it among the most common causes of ASD. 15q11-13 comprises a complex region, and as this copy number variation encompasses many genes, it is important to explore individual genotype-phenotype relationships. Cytoplasmic FMR1-interacting protein 1 (CYFIP1) is of particular interest because of its interaction with Fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP), its upregulation in transformed lymphoblastoid cell lines from patients with duplications at 15q11-13 and ASD and the presence of smaller overlapping deletions of CYFIP1 in patients with schizophrenia and intellectual disability. Here, we confirm that CYFIP1 is upregulated in transformed lymphoblastoid cell lines and demonstrate its upregulation in the post-mortem brain from 15q11-13 duplication patients for the first time. To investigate how increased CYFIP1 dosage might predispose to neurodevelopmental disease, we studied the consequence of its overexpression in multiple systems. We show that overexpression of CYFIP1 results in morphological abnormalities including cellular hypertrophy in SY5Y cells and differentiated mouse neuronal progenitors. We validate these results in vivo by generating a BAC transgenic mouse, which overexpresses Cyfip1 under the endogenous promotor, observing an increase in the proportion of mature dendritic spines and dendritic spine density. Gene expression profiling on embryonic day 15 suggested the dysregulation of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling, which was confirmed at the protein level. Importantly, similar evidence of mTOR-related dysregulation was seen in brains from 15q11-13 duplication patients with ASD. Finally, treatment of differentiated mouse neuronal progenitors with an mTOR inhibitor (rapamycin) rescued the morphological abnormalities resulting from CYFIP1 overexpression. Together, these data show that CYFIP1 overexpression results in specific cellular phenotypes and implicate modulation by mTOR signaling, further emphasizing its role as a potential convergent pathway in some forms of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Oguro-Ando
- Programs in Neurogenetics, Department of. Neurology and Program in Neurobehavioral Genetics and Center for Autism Research and Treatment, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles, 2309 Gonda Bldg, 695 Charles E. Young Dr. South Los Angeles, CA 90095-1761
,Department of Translational Neuroscience, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Universiteitsweg 100, 3584 CG, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - C Rosensweig
- Programs in Neurogenetics, Department of. Neurology and Program in Neurobehavioral Genetics and Center for Autism Research and Treatment, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles, 2309 Gonda Bldg, 695 Charles E. Young Dr. South Los Angeles, CA 90095-1761
| | - E Herman
- Programs in Neurogenetics, Department of. Neurology and Program in Neurobehavioral Genetics and Center for Autism Research and Treatment, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles, 2309 Gonda Bldg, 695 Charles E. Young Dr. South Los Angeles, CA 90095-1761
| | - Y Nishimura
- Programs in Neurogenetics, Department of. Neurology and Program in Neurobehavioral Genetics and Center for Autism Research and Treatment, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles, 2309 Gonda Bldg, 695 Charles E. Young Dr. South Los Angeles, CA 90095-1761
| | - D Werling
- Programs in Neurogenetics, Department of. Neurology and Program in Neurobehavioral Genetics and Center for Autism Research and Treatment, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles, 2309 Gonda Bldg, 695 Charles E. Young Dr. South Los Angeles, CA 90095-1761
| | - BR Bill
- Programs in Neurogenetics, Department of. Neurology and Program in Neurobehavioral Genetics and Center for Autism Research and Treatment, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles, 2309 Gonda Bldg, 695 Charles E. Young Dr. South Los Angeles, CA 90095-1761
| | - JM Berg
- Programs in Neurogenetics, Department of. Neurology and Program in Neurobehavioral Genetics and Center for Autism Research and Treatment, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles, 2309 Gonda Bldg, 695 Charles E. Young Dr. South Los Angeles, CA 90095-1761
| | - F Gao
- Programs in Neurogenetics, Department of. Neurology and Program in Neurobehavioral Genetics and Center for Autism Research and Treatment, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles, 2309 Gonda Bldg, 695 Charles E. Young Dr. South Los Angeles, CA 90095-1761
| | - G Coppola
- Programs in Neurogenetics, Department of. Neurology and Program in Neurobehavioral Genetics and Center for Autism Research and Treatment, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles, 2309 Gonda Bldg, 695 Charles E. Young Dr. South Los Angeles, CA 90095-1761
,Semel Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles, 2309 Gonda Bldg, 695 Charles E. Young Dr. South, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1761
| | - BS Abrahams
- Programs in Neurogenetics, Department of. Neurology and Program in Neurobehavioral Genetics and Center for Autism Research and Treatment, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles, 2309 Gonda Bldg, 695 Charles E. Young Dr. South Los Angeles, CA 90095-1761
| | - DH Geschwind
- Programs in Neurogenetics, Department of. Neurology and Program in Neurobehavioral Genetics and Center for Autism Research and Treatment, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles, 2309 Gonda Bldg, 695 Charles E. Young Dr. South Los Angeles, CA 90095-1761
,Dept. of Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles, 2309 Gonda Bldg, 695 Charles E. Young Dr. South, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1761
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19
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Kaiser T, Ting JT, Monteiro P, Feng G. Transgenic labeling of parvalbumin-expressing neurons with tdTomato. Neuroscience 2015; 321:236-245. [PMID: 26318335 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2015.08.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2015] [Revised: 08/08/2015] [Accepted: 08/18/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Parvalbumin (PVALB)-expressing fast-spiking interneurons subserve important roles in many brain regions by modulating circuit function and dysfunction of these neurons is strongly implicated in neuropsychiatric disorders including schizophrenia and autism. To facilitate the study of PVALB neuron function we need to be able to identify PVALB neurons in vivo. We have generated a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) transgenic mouse line expressing the red fluorophore tdTomato under the control of endogenous regulatory elements of the Pvalb gene locus (JAX # 027395). We show that the tdTomato transgene is faithfully expressed relative to endogenous PVALB expression throughout the brain. Furthermore, targeted patch clamp recordings confirm that the labeled populations in neocortex, striatum, and hippocampus are fast-spiking interneurons based on intrinsic properties. This new transgenic mouse line provides a useful tool to study PVALB neuron function in the normal brain as well as in mouse models of psychiatric disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Kaiser
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research at MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - J T Ting
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research at MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Human Cell Types Department, Allen Institute for Brain Science, 551 North 34th Street, Seattle, WA 98103, USA
| | - P Monteiro
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research at MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; PhD Program in Experimental Biology and Biomedicine (PDBEB), Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - G Feng
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research at MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.
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20
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Using transgenic reporter assays to functionally characterize enhancers in animals. Genomics 2015; 106:185-192. [PMID: 26072435 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2015.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2015] [Revised: 05/11/2015] [Accepted: 06/09/2015] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Enhancers or cis-regulatory modules play an instructive role in regulating gene expression during animal development and in response to the environment. Despite their importance, we only have an incomplete map of enhancers in the genome and our understanding of the mechanisms governing their function is still limited. Recent advances in genomics provided powerful tools to generate genome-wide maps of potential enhancers. However, most of these methods are based on indirect measures of enhancer activity and have to be followed by functional testing. Animal transgenesis has been a valuable method to functionally test and characterize enhancers in vivo. In this review I discuss how different transgenic strategies are utilized to characterize enhancers in model organisms focusing on studies in Drosophila and mouse. I will further discuss recent large-scale transgenic efforts to systematically identify and catalog enhancers as well as highlight the challenges and future directions in the field.
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21
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Zboray K, Sommeregger W, Bogner E, Gili A, Sterovsky T, Fauland K, Grabner B, Stiedl P, Moll HP, Bauer A, Kunert R, Casanova E. Heterologous protein production using euchromatin-containing expression vectors in mammalian cells. Nucleic Acids Res 2015; 43:e102. [PMID: 25977298 PMCID: PMC4652741 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkv475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2015] [Accepted: 04/29/2015] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Upon stable cell line generation, chromosomal integration site of the vector DNA has a major impact on transgene expression. Here we apply an active gene environment, rather than specified genetic elements, in expression vectors used for random integration. We generated a set of Bacterial Artificial Chromosome (BAC) vectors with different open chromatin regions, promoters and gene regulatory elements and tested their impact on recombinant protein expression in CHO cells. We identified the Rosa26 BAC as the most efficient vector backbone showing a nine-fold increase in both polyclonal and clonal production of the human IgG-Fc. Clonal protein production was directly proportional to integrated vector copy numbers and remained stable during 10 weeks without selection pressure. Finally, we demonstrated the advantages of BAC-based vectors by producing two additional proteins, HIV-1 glycoprotein CN54gp140 and HIV-1 neutralizing PG9 antibody, in bioreactors and shake flasks reaching a production yield of 1 g/l.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katalin Zboray
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Cancer Research (LBI-CR), Vienna, 1090, Austria
| | - Wolfgang Sommeregger
- Vienna Institute of BioTechnology, Department of Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, 1190, Austria Polymun Scientific GmbH, Klosterneuburg, 3400, Austria
| | - Edith Bogner
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Cancer Research (LBI-CR), Vienna, 1090, Austria
| | - Andreas Gili
- Polymun Scientific GmbH, Klosterneuburg, 3400, Austria
| | | | | | - Beatrice Grabner
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Cancer Research (LBI-CR), Vienna, 1090, Austria
| | - Patricia Stiedl
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Cancer Research (LBI-CR), Vienna, 1090, Austria
| | - Herwig P Moll
- Institute of Pharmacology, Center of Physiology and Pharmacology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, 1090, Austria
| | | | - Renate Kunert
- Vienna Institute of BioTechnology, Department of Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, 1190, Austria
| | - Emilio Casanova
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Cancer Research (LBI-CR), Vienna, 1090, Austria Institute of Pharmacology, Center of Physiology and Pharmacology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, 1090, Austria
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22
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Puighermanal E, Biever A, Espallergues J, Gangarossa G, De Bundel D, Valjent E. drd2-cre:ribotagmouse line unravels the possible diversity of dopamine d2 receptor-expressing cells of the dorsal mouse hippocampus. Hippocampus 2015; 25:858-75. [DOI: 10.1002/hipo.22408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2014] [Revised: 12/19/2014] [Accepted: 12/19/2014] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Emma Puighermanal
- CNRS, UMR-5203, Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle; Montpellier F-34094 France
- INSERM, U661; Montpellier F-34094 France
- Universités de Montpellier 1 & 2, UMR-5203; Montpellier F-34094 France
| | - Anne Biever
- CNRS, UMR-5203, Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle; Montpellier F-34094 France
- INSERM, U661; Montpellier F-34094 France
- Universités de Montpellier 1 & 2, UMR-5203; Montpellier F-34094 France
| | - Julie Espallergues
- CNRS, UMR-5203, Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle; Montpellier F-34094 France
- INSERM, U661; Montpellier F-34094 France
- Universités de Montpellier 1 & 2, UMR-5203; Montpellier F-34094 France
| | - Giuseppe Gangarossa
- CNRS, UMR-5203, Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle; Montpellier F-34094 France
- INSERM, U661; Montpellier F-34094 France
- Universités de Montpellier 1 & 2, UMR-5203; Montpellier F-34094 France
| | - Dimitri De Bundel
- CNRS, UMR-5203, Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle; Montpellier F-34094 France
- INSERM, U661; Montpellier F-34094 France
- Universités de Montpellier 1 & 2, UMR-5203; Montpellier F-34094 France
| | - Emmanuel Valjent
- CNRS, UMR-5203, Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle; Montpellier F-34094 France
- INSERM, U661; Montpellier F-34094 France
- Universités de Montpellier 1 & 2, UMR-5203; Montpellier F-34094 France
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23
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Adams EJ, Chen XW, O'Shea KS, Ginsburg D. Mammalian COPII coat component SEC24C is required for embryonic development in mice. J Biol Chem 2015; 289:20858-70. [PMID: 24876386 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m114.566687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
COPII-coated vesicles mediate the transport of newly synthesized proteins from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi. SEC24 is the COPII component primarily responsible for recruitment of protein cargoes into nascent vesicles. There are four Sec24 paralogs in mammals, with mice deficient in SEC24A, -B, and -D exhibiting a wide range of phenotypes. We now report the characterization of mice with deficiency in the fourth Sec24 paralog, SEC24C. Although mice haploinsufficient for Sec24c exhibit no apparent abnormalities, homozygous deficiency results in embryonic lethality at approximately embryonic day 7. Tissue-specific deletion of Sec24c in hepatocytes, pancreatic cells, smooth muscle cells, and intestinal epithelial cells results in phenotypically normal mice. Thus, SEC24C is required in early mammalian development but is dispensable in a number of tissues, likely as a result of compensation by other Sec24 paralogs. The embryonic lethality resulting from loss of SEC24C occurs considerably later than the lethality previously observed in SEC24D deficiency; it is clearly distinct from the restricted neural tube phenotype of Sec24b null embryos and the mild hypocholesterolemic phenotype of adult Sec24a null mice. Taken together, these results demonstrate that the four Sec24 paralogs have developed unique functions over the course of vertebrate evolution.
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24
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McDermott J, Sánchez G, Nangia AK, Blanco G. Role of human Na,K-ATPase alpha 4 in sperm function, derived from studies in transgenic mice. Mol Reprod Dev 2015; 82:167-81. [PMID: 25640246 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.22454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2014] [Accepted: 12/10/2014] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Most of our knowledge on the biological role of the testis-specific Na,K-ATPase alpha 4 isoform derives from studies performed in non-human species. Here, we studied the function of human Na,K-ATPase alpha 4 after its expression in transgenic mice. Using a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) construct containing the human ATP1A4 gene locus, we obtained expression of the human α4 transgene specifically in mouse sperm testis and, in the sperm flagellum. The expressed human alpha 4 was active, and compared to wild-type sperm, those from transgenic mice displayed higher Na,K-ATPase alpha 4 activity and greater binding of fluorescently labeled ouabain, which is typical of the alpha 4 isoform. The expression and activity of endogenous alpha 4 and the other Na,K-ATPase alpha isoform present in sperm, alpha 1, remained unchanged. Male mice expressing the human ATP1A4 transgene exhibited similar testis size and morphology, normal sperm number and shape, and no changes in overall fertility compared to wild-type mice. Sperm carrying the human transgene exhibited enhanced total motility and an increase in multiple parameters of sperm movement, including higher sperm hyperactive motility. In contrast, no statistically significant changes in sperm membrane potential, protein tyrosine phosphorylation, or spontaneous acrosome reaction were found between wild-type and transgenic mice. Altogether, these results provide new genetic evidence for an important role of human Na,K-ATPase alpha 4 in sperm motility and hyperactivation, and establishes a new animal model for future studies of this isoform.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey McDermott
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, Department of Urology and Institute for Reproductive Health and Regenerative Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
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25
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Ding JD, Kelly U, Landowski M, Toomey CB, Groelle M, Miller C, Smith SG, Klingeborn M, Singhapricha T, Jiang H, Frank MM, Bowes Rickman C. Expression of human complement factor H prevents age-related macular degeneration-like retina damage and kidney abnormalities in aged Cfh knockout mice. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2014; 185:29-42. [PMID: 25447048 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2014.08.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2014] [Revised: 08/21/2014] [Accepted: 08/27/2014] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Complement factor H (CFH) is an important regulatory protein in the alternative pathway of the complement system, and CFH polymorphisms increase the genetic risk of age-related macular degeneration dramatically. These same human CFH variants have also been associated with dense deposit disease. To mechanistically study the function of CFH in the pathogenesis of these diseases, we created transgenic mouse lines using human CFH bacterial artificial chromosomes expressing full-length human CFH variants and crossed these to Cfh knockout (Cfh(-/-)) mice. Human CFH protein inhibited cleavage of mouse complement component 3 and factor B in plasma and in retinal pigment epithelium/choroid/sclera, establishing that human CFH regulates activation of the mouse alternative pathway. One of the mouse lines, which express relatively higher levels of CFH, demonstrated functional and structural protection of the retina owing to the Cfh deletion. Impaired visual function, detected as a deficit in the scotopic electroretinographic response, was improved in this transgenic mouse line compared with Cfh(-/-) mice, and transgenics had a thicker outer nuclear layer and less sub-retinal pigment epithelium deposit accumulation. In addition, expression of human CFH also completely protected the mice from developing kidney abnormalities associated with loss of CFH. These humanized CFH mice present a valuable model for study of the molecular mechanisms of age-related macular degeneration and dense deposit disease and for testing therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin-Dong Ding
- Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Una Kelly
- Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Michael Landowski
- Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Christopher B Toomey
- Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina; Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Marybeth Groelle
- Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Chelsey Miller
- Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Stephanie G Smith
- Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Mikael Klingeborn
- Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Terry Singhapricha
- Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Haixiang Jiang
- Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Michael M Frank
- Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Catherine Bowes Rickman
- Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina; Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina.
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26
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Mani BK, Walker AK, Lopez Soto EJ, Raingo J, Lee CE, Perelló M, Andrews ZB, Zigman JM. Neuroanatomical characterization of a growth hormone secretagogue receptor-green fluorescent protein reporter mouse. J Comp Neurol 2014; 522:3644-66. [PMID: 24825838 PMCID: PMC4142102 DOI: 10.1002/cne.23627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 118] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2014] [Revised: 05/08/2014] [Accepted: 05/09/2014] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHSR) 1a is the only molecularly identified receptor for ghrelin, mediating ghrelin-related effects on eating, body weight, and blood glucose control, among others. The expression pattern of GHSR within the brain has been assessed previously by several neuroanatomical techniques. However, inherent limitations to these techniques and the lack of reliable anti-GHSR antibodies and reporter rodent models that identify GHSR-containing neurons have prevented a more comprehensive functional characterization of ghrelin-responsive neurons. Here we have systematically characterized the brain expression of an enhanced green fluorescence protein (eGFP) transgene controlled by the Ghsr promoter in a recently reported GHSR reporter mouse. Expression of eGFP in coronal brain sections was compared with GHSR mRNA expression detected in the same sections by in situ hybridization histochemistry. eGFP immunoreactivity was detected in several areas, including the prefrontal cortex, insular cortex, olfactory bulb, amygdala, and hippocampus, which showed no or low GHSR mRNA expression. In contrast, eGFP expression was low in several midbrain regions and in several hypothalamic nuclei, particularly the arcuate nucleus, where robust GHSR mRNA expression has been well-characterized. eGFP expression in several brainstem nuclei showed high to moderate degrees of colocalization with GHSR mRNA labeling. Further quantitative PCR and electrophysiological analyses of eGFP-labeled hippocampal cells confirmed faithful expression of eGFP within GHSR-containing, ghrelin-responsive neurons. In summary, the GHSR-eGFP reporter mouse model may be a useful tool for studying GHSR function, particularly within the brainstem and hippocampus; however, it underrepresents GHSR expression in nuclei within the hypothalamus and midbrain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bharath K. Mani
- Division of Hypothalamic Research and Division of Endocrinology & Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine and Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Angela K. Walker
- Division of Hypothalamic Research and Division of Endocrinology & Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine and Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Eduardo J. Lopez Soto
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Multidisciplinary Institute of Cell Biology, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Jesica Raingo
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Multidisciplinary Institute of Cell Biology, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Charlotte E. Lee
- Division of Hypothalamic Research and Division of Endocrinology & Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine and Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Mario Perelló
- Laboratory of Electrophysiology, Multidisciplinary Institute of Cell Biology, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Zane B. Andrews
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jeffrey M. Zigman
- Division of Hypothalamic Research and Division of Endocrinology & Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine and Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
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27
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Cheng CY, Zhou Z, Nikitin AY. Detection and organ-specific ablation of neuroendocrine cells by synaptophysin locus-based BAC cassette in transgenic mice. PLoS One 2013; 8:e60905. [PMID: 23630575 PMCID: PMC3632533 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0060905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2013] [Accepted: 03/05/2013] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The role of cells of the diffuse neuroendocrine system in development and maintenance of individual organs and tissues remains poorly understood. Here we identify a regulatory region sufficient for accurate in vivo expression of synaptophysin (SYP), a common marker of neuroendocrine differentiation, and report generation of Tg(Syp-EGFP(loxP)-DTA)147(Ayn) (SypELDTA) mice suitable for flexible organ-specific ablation of neuroendocrine cells. These mice express EGFP and diphtheria toxin fragment A (DTA) in SYP positive cells before and after Cre-loxP mediated recombination, respectively. As a proof of principle, we have crossed SypELDTA mice with EIIA-Cre and PB-Cre4 mice. EIIA-Cre mice express Cre recombinase in a broad range of tissues, while PB-Cre4 mice specifically express Cre recombinase in the prostate epithelium. Double transgenic EIIA-Cre; SypELDTA embryos exhibited massive cell death in SYP positive cells. At the same time, PB-Cre4; SypELDTA mice showed a substantial decrease in the number of neuroendocrine cells and associated prostate hypotrophy. As no increase in cell death and/or Cre-loxP mediated recombination was observed in non-neuroendocrine epithelium cells, these results suggest that neuroendocrine cells play an important role in prostate development. High cell type specificity of Syp locus-based cassette and versatility of generated mouse model should assure applicability of these resources to studies of neuroendocrine cell functions in various tissues and organs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chieh-Yang Cheng
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
| | - Zongxiang Zhou
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
| | - Alexander Yu. Nikitin
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
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Cannon JR, Geghman KD, Tapias V, Sew T, Dail MK, Li C, Greenamyre JT. Expression of human E46K-mutated α-synuclein in BAC-transgenic rats replicates early-stage Parkinson's disease features and enhances vulnerability to mitochondrial impairment. Exp Neurol 2012; 240:44-56. [PMID: 23153578 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2012.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2012] [Revised: 10/29/2012] [Accepted: 11/05/2012] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD), the second most common neurodegenerative disorder, is etiologically heterogeneous, with most cases thought to arise from a combination of environmental factors and genetic predisposition; about 10% of cases are caused by single gene mutations. While neurotoxin models replicate many of the key behavioral and neurological features, they often have limited relevance to human exposures. Genetic models replicate known disease-causing mutations, but are mostly unsuccessful in reproducing major features of PD. In this study, we created a BAC (bacterial artificial chromosome) transgenic rat model of PD expressing the E46K mutation of α-synuclein, which is pathogenic in humans. The mutant protein was expressed at levels ~2-3-fold above endogenous α-synuclein levels. At 12 months of age, there was no overt damage to the nigrostriatal dopamine system; however, (i) alterations in striatal neurotransmitter metabolism, (ii) accumulation and aggregation of α-synuclein in nigral dopamine neurons, and (iii) evidence of oxidative stress suggest this model replicates several preclinical features of PD. Further, when these animals were exposed to rotenone, a mitochondrial toxin linked to PD, they showed heightened sensitivity, indicating that α-synuclein expression modulates the vulnerability to mitochondrial impairment. We conclude that these animals are well-suited to examination of gene-environment interactions that are relevant to PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason R Cannon
- School of Health Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
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29
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Abstract
Background Wig-1 is a transcription factor regulated by p53 that can interact with hnRNP A2/B1, RNA Helicase A, and dsRNAs, which plays an important role in RNA and protein stabilization. in vitro studies have shown that wig-1 binds p53 mRNA and stabilizes it by protecting it from deadenylation. Furthermore, p53 has been implicated as a causal factor in neurodegenerative diseases based in part on its selective regulatory function on gene expression, including genes which, in turn, also possess regulatory functions on gene expression. In this study we focused on the wig-1 transcription factor as a downstream p53 regulated gene and characterized the effects of wig-1 down regulation on gene expression in mouse liver and brain. Methods and Results Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) were identified that specifically target mouse wig-1 mRNA and produce a dose-dependent reduction in wig-1 mRNA levels in cell culture. These wig-1 ASOs produced marked reductions in wig-1 levels in liver following intraperitoneal administration and in brain tissue following ASO administration through a single striatal bolus injection in FVB and BACHD mice. Wig-1 suppression was well tolerated and resulted in the reduction of mutant Htt protein levels in BACHD mouse brain but had no effect on normal Htt protein levels nor p53 mRNA or protein levels. Expression microarray analysis was employed to determine the effects of wig-1 suppression on genome-wide expression in mouse liver and brain. Reduction of wig-1 caused both down regulation and up regulation of several genes, and a number of wig-1 regulated genes were identified that potentially links wig-1 various signaling pathways and diseases. Conclusion Antisense oligonucleotides can effectively reduce wig-1 levels in mouse liver and brain, which results in specific changes in gene expression for pathways relevant to both the nervous system and cancer.
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30
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Bacterial artificial chromosome libraries of pulse crops: characteristics and applications. J Biomed Biotechnol 2011; 2012:493186. [PMID: 21811383 PMCID: PMC3144660 DOI: 10.1155/2012/493186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2011] [Revised: 05/29/2011] [Accepted: 05/30/2011] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Pulse crops are considered minor on a global scale despite their nutritional value for human consumption. Therefore, they are relatively less extensively studied in comparison with the major crops. The need to improve pulse crop production and quality will increase with the increasing global demand for food security and people's awareness of nutritious food. The improvement of pulse crops will require fully utilizing all their genetic resources. Bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) libraries of pulse crops are essential genomic resources that have the potential to accelerate gene discovery and enhance molecular breeding in these crops. Here, we review the availability, characteristics, applications, and potential applications of the BAC libraries of pulse crops.
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31
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Dhaliwal J, Lagace DC. Visualization and genetic manipulation of adult neurogenesis using transgenic mice. Eur J Neurosci 2011; 33:1025-36. [PMID: 21395845 DOI: 10.1111/j.1460-9568.2011.07600.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Many laboratories have focused efforts on the creation of transgenic mouse models to study adult neurogenesis. In the last decade several constitutive reporter, as well as inducible transgenic lines have been published that allowed for visualization, tracking and alteration of specific neurogenic cell populations in the adult brain. Given the popularity of this approach, multiple mouse lines are available, and this review summarizes the differences in the basic techniques that have been used to create these mice, highlighting the different constructs and reporter proteins used, as well as the strengths and limitations of each of these models. Representative examples from the literature demonstrate some of the diverse and seminal findings that have come to fruition through the laborious, yet highly rewarding work of creating transgenic mouse lines for adult neurogenesis research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jagroop Dhaliwal
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
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BACs as tools for the study of genomic imprinting. J Biomed Biotechnol 2010; 2011:283013. [PMID: 21197393 PMCID: PMC3010669 DOI: 10.1155/2011/283013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2010] [Revised: 07/20/2010] [Accepted: 10/19/2010] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Genomic imprinting in mammals results in the expression of genes from only one parental allele. Imprinting occurs as a consequence of epigenetic marks set down either in the father's or the mother's germ line and affects a very specific category of mammalian gene. A greater understanding of this distinctive phenomenon can be gained from studies using large genomic clones, called bacterial artificial chromosomes (BACs). Here, we review the important applications of BACs to imprinting research, covering physical mapping studies and the use of BACs as transgenes in mice to study gene expression patterns, to identify imprinting centres, and to isolate the consequences of altered gene dosage. We also highlight the significant and unique advantages that rapid BAC engineering brings to genomic imprinting research.
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Xu Q, Anderson SA. Mapping lineage using BAC-Cre reporter lines. CURRENT PROTOCOLS IN NEUROSCIENCE 2010; Chapter 1:Unit 1.19. [PMID: 20066654 DOI: 10.1002/0471142301.ns0119s50] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
As the brain develops, progenitor cells acquire the features of specific neuronal or glial subtypes through dynamic expression of the fate-determining signaling molecules and their targeting transcription factors. An effective and versatile approach for tracing lineage of progenitors into adult cell types is to target the promoter of an interested gene with Cre (a phage DNA recombinase) to achieve simultaneous activation during neurogenesis. The bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) is an efficient Cre carrier. Not only the targeted gene remains diploidy in BAC-Cre transgenic mice, but also the large portions of the gene's regulatory elements to be incorporated in the BAC allow Cre to sufficiently and reliably reproduce the endogenous gene expression pattern. When the BAC-Cre mouse is crossed to a Cre reporter mouse, even Cre is transiently expressed. Cre-loxP mediated recombination can permanently activate a reporter gene, such as green fluorescent protein (GFP) in all lineage cells of the gene. Experimental designs and procedures for RecA-based BAC DNA modification and preparation for pronuclear injection are highlighted. Suggestions for the use of BAC-Cre transgenic mice in fate-mapping analyses are also provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Xu
- Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York, USA
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Gu X, Greiner ER, Mishra R, Kodali R, Osmand A, Finkbeiner S, Steffan JS, Thompson LM, Wetzel R, Yang XW. Serines 13 and 16 are critical determinants of full-length human mutant huntingtin induced disease pathogenesis in HD mice. Neuron 2009; 64:828-40. [PMID: 20064390 PMCID: PMC2807408 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2009.11.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 253] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/11/2009] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The N-terminal 17 amino acids of huntingtin (NT17) can be phosphorylated on serines 13 and 16; however, the significance of these modifications in Huntington's disease pathogenesis remains unknown. In this study, we developed BAC transgenic mice expressing full-length mutant huntingtin (fl-mhtt) with serines 13 and 16 mutated to either aspartate (phosphomimetic or SD) or alanine (phosphoresistant or SA). Both mutant proteins preserve the essential function of huntingtin in rescuing knockout mouse phenotypes. However, fl-mhtt-induced disease pathogenesis, including motor and psychiatric-like behavioral deficits, mhtt aggregation, and selective neurodegeneration are abolished in SD but preserved in SA mice. Moreover, modification of these serines in expanded repeat huntingtin peptides modulates aggregation and amyloid fibril formation in vitro. Together, our findings demonstrate that serines 13 and 16 are critical determinants of fl-mhtt-induced disease pathogenesis in vivo, supporting the targeting of huntingtin NT17 domain and its modifications in HD therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofeng Gu
- Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095
- Brain Research Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Erin R. Greiner
- Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Rakesh Mishra
- Department of Structural Biology and Pittsburgh Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, USA
| | - Ravindra Kodali
- Department of Structural Biology and Pittsburgh Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, USA
| | - Alex Osmand
- Department of Medicine, University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine, 1924 Alcoa Highway, Knoxville TN 37920
| | - Steven Finkbeiner
- Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease, Taube-Koret Center for Huntington’s Disease Research, Departments of Neurology and Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, 1650 Owens St., Office 308, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Joan S. Steffan
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Leslie Michels Thompson
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Ronald Wetzel
- Department of Structural Biology and Pittsburgh Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, USA
| | - X. William Yang
- Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095
- Brain Research Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095
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Wussow F, Fickenscher H, Tischer BK. Red-mediated transposition and final release of the mini-F vector of a cloned infectious herpesvirus genome. PLoS One 2009; 4:e8178. [PMID: 19997639 PMCID: PMC2780728 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0008178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2009] [Accepted: 11/08/2009] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacterial artificial chromosomes (BACs) are well-established cloning vehicles for functional genomics and for constructing targeting vectors and infectious viral DNA clones. Red-recombination-based mutagenesis techniques have enabled the manipulation of BACs in Escherichia coli without any remaining operational sequences. Here, we describe that the F-factor-derived vector sequences can be inserted into a novel position and seamlessly removed from the present location of the BAC-cloned DNA via synchronous Red-recombination in E. coli in an en passant mutagenesis-based procedure. Using this technique, the mini-F elements of a cloned infectious varicella zoster virus (VZV) genome were specifically transposed into novel positions distributed over the viral DNA to generate six different BAC variants. In comparison to the other constructs, a BAC variant with mini-F sequences directly inserted into the junction of the genomic termini resulted in highly efficient viral DNA replication-mediated spontaneous vector excision upon virus reconstitution in transfected VZV-permissive eukaryotic cells. Moreover, the derived vector-free recombinant progeny exhibited virtually indistinguishable genome properties and replication kinetics to the wild-type virus. Thus, a sequence-independent, efficient, and easy-to-apply mini-F vector transposition procedure eliminates the last hurdle to perform virtually any kind of imaginable targeted BAC modifications in E. coli. The herpesviral terminal genomic junction was identified as an optimal mini-F vector integration site for the construction of an infectious BAC, which allows the rapid generation of mutant virus without any unwanted secondary genome alterations. The novel mini-F transposition technique can be a valuable tool to optimize, repair or restructure other established BACs as well and may facilitate the development of gene therapy or vaccine vectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix Wussow
- Institute for Infection Medicine, Christian-Albrecht University of Kiel and University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany
| | - Helmut Fickenscher
- Institute for Infection Medicine, Christian-Albrecht University of Kiel and University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany
- * E-mail: (HF); (BKT)
| | - B. Karsten Tischer
- Institute for Infection Medicine, Christian-Albrecht University of Kiel and University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany
- Institute of Virology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- * E-mail: (HF); (BKT)
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Bacterial artificial chromosome transgenic mice expressing a truncated mutant parkin exhibit age-dependent hypokinetic motor deficits, dopaminergic neuron degeneration, and accumulation of proteinase K-resistant alpha-synuclein. J Neurosci 2009; 29:1962-76. [PMID: 19228951 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.5351-08.2009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 129] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Recessive mutations in parkin are the most common cause of familial early-onset Parkinson's disease (PD). Recent studies suggest that certain parkin mutants may exert dominant toxic effects to cultured cells and such dominant toxicity can lead to progressive dopaminergic (DA) neuron degeneration in Drosophila. To explore whether mutant parkin could exert similar pathogenic effects to mammalian DA neurons in vivo, we developed a BAC (bacterial artificial chromosome) transgenic mouse model expressing a C-terminal truncated human mutant parkin (Parkin-Q311X) in DA neurons driven by a dopamine transporter promoter. Parkin-Q311X mice exhibit multiple late-onset and progressive hypokinetic motor deficits. Stereological analyses reveal that the mutant mice develop age-dependent DA neuron degeneration in substantia nigra accompanied by a significant loss of DA neuron terminals in the striatum. Neurochemical analyses reveal a significant reduction of the striatal dopamine level in mutant mice, which is significantly correlated with their hypokinetic motor deficits. Finally, mutant Parkin-Q311X mice, but not wild-type controls, exhibit age-dependent accumulation of proteinase K-resistant endogenous alpha-synuclein in substantia nigra and colocalized with 3-nitrotyrosine, a marker for oxidative protein damage. Hence, our study provides the first mammalian genetic evidence that dominant toxicity of a parkin mutant is sufficient to elicit age-dependent hypokinetic motor deficits and DA neuron loss in vivo, and uncovers a causal relationship between dominant parkin toxicity and progressive alpha-synuclein accumulation in DA neurons. Our study underscores the need to further explore the putative link between parkin dominant toxicity and PD.
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Lu XH. BAC to degeneration bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC)-mediated transgenesis for modeling basal ganglia neurodegenerative disorders. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF NEUROBIOLOGY 2009; 89:37-56. [PMID: 19900614 DOI: 10.1016/s0074-7742(09)89002-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Basal ganglia neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson's disease (PD) and Huntington's disease (HD), are characterized by not only spectrum of motor deficits, ranging form hypokinesia to hyperkinesia, but also emotional, cognitive, and psychiatric manifestations. The symptoms and pathogenic mechanism of these disorders should be viewed as dysfunctions of specific cortico-subcortical neurocircuits. Transgenic approaches using large genomic inserts, such as bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC)-mediated transgenesis, due to its capacity to propagate large-size genomic DNA and faithful production of endogenous-like gene expression pattern/lever, have provided an ideal basis for the generation of transgenic mice as model for basal ganglia neurodegenerative disorders, as well as the functional and structural analysis of neurocircuits. In this chapter, the basic concepts and practical approaches about application of BAC transgenic system are introduced. Existent major BAC transgenic mouse models for PD and HD are evaluated according to their construct, face, and predicative validity. Finally, considerations, possible solutions, and future perspectives of using BAC transgenic approach to study basal ganglia neurodegenerative disorders are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Hong Lu
- Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, Semel Institute for Neuroscience & Human Behavior, Brain Research Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
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