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Thorsen AS, Khamis D, Kemp R, Colombé M, Lourenço FC, Morrissey E, Winton D. Heterogeneity in clone dynamics within and adjacent to intestinal tumours identified by Dre-mediated lineage tracing. Dis Model Mech 2021; 14:dmm046706. [PMID: 33093165 PMCID: PMC7823168 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.046706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Somatic models of tissue pathology commonly use induction of gene-specific mutations in mice mediated by spatiotemporal regulation of Cre recombinase. Subsequent investigation of the onset and development of disease can be limited by the inability to track changing cellular behaviours over time. Here, a lineage-tracing approach based on ligand-dependent activation of Dre recombinase that can be employed independently of Cre is described. The clonal biology of the intestinal epithelium following Cre-mediated stabilisation of β-catenin reveals that, within tumours, many new clones rapidly become extinct. Surviving clones show accelerated population of tumour glands compared to normal intestinal crypts but in a non-uniform manner, indicating that intra-tumour glands follow heterogeneous dynamics. In tumour-adjacent epithelia, clone sizes are smaller than in the background epithelia, as a whole. This suggests a zone of ∼seven crypt diameters within which clone expansion is inhibited by tumours and that may facilitate their growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann-Sofie Thorsen
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Li Ka Shing Centre, Robinson Way, Cambridge CB2 0RE, UK
| | - Doran Khamis
- University of Oxford, Center for Computational Biology, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Richard Kemp
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Li Ka Shing Centre, Robinson Way, Cambridge CB2 0RE, UK
| | - Mathilde Colombé
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Li Ka Shing Centre, Robinson Way, Cambridge CB2 0RE, UK
| | - Filipe C. Lourenço
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Li Ka Shing Centre, Robinson Way, Cambridge CB2 0RE, UK
| | - Edward Morrissey
- University of Oxford, Center for Computational Biology, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Douglas Winton
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Li Ka Shing Centre, Robinson Way, Cambridge CB2 0RE, UK
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2
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Jiang M, Roth MG, Chun-On P, Sullivan DI, Alder JK. Phenotypic Diversity Caused by Differential Expression of SFTPC-Cre-Transgenic Alleles. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol 2020; 62:692-698. [PMID: 32208105 DOI: 10.1165/rcmb.2019-0416ma] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Type II alveolar epithelial cells (AEC2s) play an essential role in the function and maintenance of the pulmonary epithelium. Several transgenic mice have been developed to study the function of these cells in vivo by using the human SFTPC promoter to drive expression of Cre recombinase. The precise activity of each of these transgenic alleles has not been studied, and previous reports suggest that their activity can depend on breeding strategies. We bred mice with a conditional allele of the essential telomere capping protein TRF2 with two different SFTPC-Cre-transgenic strains and observed opposite phenotypes (100% lethality vs. 100% viability). We characterized the Cre recombinase activity in these two transgenic lines and found that the contrasting phenotypes were driven by difference in embryonic expression of the two transgenes, likely due to position effects or differences in the transgenic constructs. We also tested if SFTPC-Cre activity was dependent on maternal or paternal inheritance. When paternally inherited, both SFTPC-Cre alleles produced offspring with constitutive reporter activity independent of the inheritance of the Cre allele, suggesting that Cre recombinase was expressed in the male germline before meiosis. Immunohistochemical analysis of the testis showed reporter activity during spermatogenesis. Analysis of single-cell RNA sequencing data from murine and human testis demonstrated SFTPC expression uniquely during human spermatogenesis, suggesting that use of the human promoter in these constructs is responsible for male germline activity. Our data highlight the importance of careful analysis of transgenic allele activity and identify an SFTPC-Cre allele that is useful for panepithelial targeting in the mouse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mao Jiang
- The Third Xiangya Hospital and Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, Dorothy P. and Richard P. Simmons Center for Interstitial Lung Disease, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Mark G Roth
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, Dorothy P. and Richard P. Simmons Center for Interstitial Lung Disease, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Pattra Chun-On
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, Dorothy P. and Richard P. Simmons Center for Interstitial Lung Disease, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.,Faculty of Medicine and Public Health, HRH Princess Chulabhorn College of Medical Science, Chulabhorn Royal Academy, Bangkok, Thailand; and.,Environmental and Occupational Health Department, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Daniel I Sullivan
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, Dorothy P. and Richard P. Simmons Center for Interstitial Lung Disease, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Jonathan K Alder
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, Dorothy P. and Richard P. Simmons Center for Interstitial Lung Disease, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
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3
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Abstract
Lung cancer causes more deaths annually than any other malignancy. A subset of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is driven by amplification and overexpression or activating mutation of the receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) ERBB2 In some contexts, notably breast cancer, alternative splicing of ERBB2 causes skipping of exon 16, leading to the expression of an oncogenic ERBB2 isoform (ERBB2ΔEx16) that forms constitutively active homodimers. However, the broader implications of ERBB2 alternative splicing in human cancers have not been explored. Here, we have used genomic and transcriptomic analysis to identify elevated ERBB2ΔEx16 expression in a subset of NSCLC cases, as well as splicing site mutations facilitating exon 16 skipping and deletions of exon 16 in a subset of these lung tumors and in a number of other carcinomas. Supporting the potential of ERBB2ΔEx16 as a lung cancer driver, its expression transformed immortalized lung epithelial cells while a transgenic model featuring inducible ERBB2ΔEx16 specifically in the lung epithelium rapidly developed lung adenocarcinomas following transgene induction. Collectively, these observations indicate that ERBB2ΔEx16 is a lung cancer oncogene with potential clinical importance for a proportion of patients.
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4
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Smith LIF, Hill TG, Bowe JE. Generating Beta-Cell-Specific Transgenic Mice Using the Cre-Lox System. Methods Mol Biol 2020; 2128:181-205. [PMID: 32180194 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-0385-7_13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Beta-cell-specific transgenic mice provide an invaluable model for dissecting the direct signaling mechanisms involved in regulating beta-cell structure and function. Furthermore, generating novel transgenic models is now easier and more cost-effective than ever, thanks to exciting novel approaches such as CRISPR.Here, we describe the commonly used approaches for generating and maintaining beta-cell-specific transgenic models and some of the considerations involved in their use. This includes the use of different beta-cell-specific promoters (e.g., pancreatic and duodenal homeobox factor 1 (Pdx1), rat insulin 2 promoter (RIP), and mouse insulin 1 promoter (MIP)) to drive site-specific recombinase technology. Important considerations during selection include level and uniformity of expression in the beta-cell population, ectopic transgene expression, and the use of inducible models.This chapter provides a guide to the procurement, generation, and maintenance of a beta-cell-specific transgene colony from preexisting Cre and loxP mouse strains, providing methods for crossbreeding and genotyping, as well as subsequent maintenance and, in the case of inducible models, transgenic induction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorna I F Smith
- Department of Diabetes, School of Life Course Sciences, King's College London, London, UK.
| | - Thomas G Hill
- Department of Diabetes, School of Life Course Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - James E Bowe
- Department of Diabetes, School of Life Course Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
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5
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Lignelli E, Palumbo F, Myti D, Morty RE. Recent advances in our understanding of the mechanisms of lung alveolarization and bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 2019; 317:L832-L887. [PMID: 31596603 DOI: 10.1152/ajplung.00369.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is the most common cause of morbidity and mortality in preterm infants. A key histopathological feature of BPD is stunted late lung development, where the process of alveolarization-the generation of alveolar gas exchange units-is impeded, through mechanisms that remain largely unclear. As such, there is interest in the clarification both of the pathomechanisms at play in affected lungs, and the mechanisms of de novo alveoli generation in healthy, developing lungs. A better understanding of normal and pathological alveolarization might reveal opportunities for improved medical management of affected infants. Furthermore, disturbances to the alveolar architecture are a key histopathological feature of several adult chronic lung diseases, including emphysema and fibrosis, and it is envisaged that knowledge about the mechanisms of alveologenesis might facilitate regeneration of healthy lung parenchyma in affected patients. To this end, recent efforts have interrogated clinical data, developed new-and refined existing-in vivo and in vitro models of BPD, have applied new microscopic and radiographic approaches, and have developed advanced cell-culture approaches, including organoid generation. Advances have also been made in the development of other methodologies, including single-cell analysis, metabolomics, lipidomics, and proteomics, as well as the generation and use of complex mouse genetics tools. The objective of this review is to present advances made in our understanding of the mechanisms of lung alveolarization and BPD over the period 1 January 2017-30 June 2019, a period that spans the 50th anniversary of the original clinical description of BPD in preterm infants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ettore Lignelli
- Department of Lung Development and Remodeling, Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany.,Department of Internal Medicine (Pulmonology), University of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center, member of the German Center for Lung Research, Giessen, Germany
| | - Francesco Palumbo
- Department of Lung Development and Remodeling, Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany.,Department of Internal Medicine (Pulmonology), University of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center, member of the German Center for Lung Research, Giessen, Germany
| | - Despoina Myti
- Department of Lung Development and Remodeling, Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany.,Department of Internal Medicine (Pulmonology), University of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center, member of the German Center for Lung Research, Giessen, Germany
| | - Rory E Morty
- Department of Lung Development and Remodeling, Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany.,Department of Internal Medicine (Pulmonology), University of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center, member of the German Center for Lung Research, Giessen, Germany
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Mroß C, Marko M, Munck M, Glöckner G, Motameny S, Altmüller J, Noegel AA, Eichinger L, Peche VS, Neumann S. Depletion of Nesprin-2 is associated with an embryonic lethal phenotype in mice. Nucleus 2019; 9:503-515. [PMID: 30220251 PMCID: PMC6244730 DOI: 10.1080/19491034.2018.1523664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Nesprin-2 is a nuclear envelope component and provides a link between cytoskeletal components of the cytoplasm and the nucleoplasm. Several isoforms are generated from its gene Syne2. Loss of the largest isoform Nesprin-2 Giant in mice is associated with a skin phenotype and altered wound healing, loss of C-terminal isoforms in mice leads to cardiomyopathies and neurological defects. Here we attempted to establish mice with an inducible knockout of all Nesprin-2 isoforms by inserting shRNA encoding sequences targeting the N- and C-terminus into the ROSA26 locus of mice. This caused early embryonic death of the animals harboring the mutant allele, which was presumably due to leaky expression of the shRNAs. Mutant embryos were only observed before E13. They had an altered appearance and were smaller in size than their wild type littermates. From this we conclude that the Nesprin-2 gene function is crucial during embryonic growth, differentiation and organogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Mroß
- a Institute of Biochemistry I, Medical Faculty , University Hospital Cologne; Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC) and Cologne Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD) , Koeln , Germany
| | - Marija Marko
- a Institute of Biochemistry I, Medical Faculty , University Hospital Cologne; Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC) and Cologne Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD) , Koeln , Germany
| | - Martina Munck
- a Institute of Biochemistry I, Medical Faculty , University Hospital Cologne; Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC) and Cologne Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD) , Koeln , Germany
| | - Gernot Glöckner
- a Institute of Biochemistry I, Medical Faculty , University Hospital Cologne; Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC) and Cologne Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD) , Koeln , Germany
| | - Susanne Motameny
- b Cologne Center for Genomics (CCG) , University of Cologne , Koeln , Germany
| | - Janine Altmüller
- b Cologne Center for Genomics (CCG) , University of Cologne , Koeln , Germany
| | - Angelika A Noegel
- a Institute of Biochemistry I, Medical Faculty , University Hospital Cologne; Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC) and Cologne Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD) , Koeln , Germany
| | - Ludwig Eichinger
- a Institute of Biochemistry I, Medical Faculty , University Hospital Cologne; Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC) and Cologne Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD) , Koeln , Germany
| | - Vivek S Peche
- a Institute of Biochemistry I, Medical Faculty , University Hospital Cologne; Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC) and Cologne Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD) , Koeln , Germany
| | - Sascha Neumann
- a Institute of Biochemistry I, Medical Faculty , University Hospital Cologne; Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC) and Cologne Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD) , Koeln , Germany
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7
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Zhang Y, Mao D, Keeler SP, Wang X, Wu K, Gerovac BJ, Shornick LL, Agapov EV, Holtzman MJ. Respiratory Enterovirus (like Parainfluenza Virus) Can Cause Chronic Lung Disease if Protection by Airway Epithelial STAT1 Is Lost. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2019; 202:2332-2347. [PMID: 30804041 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1801491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2018] [Accepted: 02/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Epithelial barrier cells are proposed to be critical for host defense, and airway epithelial cell capacity for IFN signal transduction is presumed to protect against respiratory viral infection. However, it has been difficult to fully test these concepts given the absence of tools to analyze IFN signaling specific to airway epithelial cells in vivo. To address these issues, we generated a new line of transgenic mice with Cre-driver genes (Foxj1 and Scgb1a1) for a floxed-Stat1 allele (designated Foxj1-Scgb1a1-Cre-Stat1f/f mice) to target the master IFN signal regulator STAT1 in airway epithelial cells and tested these mice for control of infection because of mouse parainfluenza (Sendai) virus and human enterovirus D68 (EV-D68). Indeed, both types of infections showed increases in viral titers and severity of acute illness in Foxj1-Scgb1a1-Cre-Stat1f/f mice and conventional Stat1-/- mice compared with wild-type mice. In concert, the chronic lung disease that develops after Sendai virus infection was also increased in Foxj1-Scgb1a1-Cre-Stat1f/f and Stat1-/ - mice, marked by airway and adjacent parenchymal immune cell infiltration and mucus production for at least 7 wk postinfection. Unexpectedly, relatively mild EV-D68 infection also progressed to chronic lung disease in Foxj1-Scgb1a1-Cre-Stat1f/f and Stat1 -/- mice but was limited (like viral replication) to airways. The results thereby provide proof-of-concept for a critical role of barrier epithelial cells in protection from acute illness and chronic disease after viral infection and suggest a specific role for airway epithelial cells given the limitation of EV-D68 replication and acute and chronic manifestations of disease primarily to airway tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Zhang
- Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110
| | - Dailing Mao
- Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110
| | - Shamus P Keeler
- Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110
| | - Xinyu Wang
- Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110
| | - Kangyun Wu
- Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110
| | - Benjamin J Gerovac
- Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110
| | - Laurie L Shornick
- Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110
| | - Eugene V Agapov
- Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110
| | - Michael J Holtzman
- Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110
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8
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O'Neal WK. Lung Cell-Specific Cre Deleter Mouse Strains: Going Back to Move Forward. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol 2017; 57:149-150. [PMID: 28762768 DOI: 10.1165/rcmb.2017-0099ed] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Wanda K O'Neal
- 1 Marsico Lung Institute/UNC Cystic Fibrosis Center University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, North Carolina
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