Mice with a fluorescent marker for interleukin 2 gene activation.
Production of interleukin (IL)-2 by T lymphocytes is one of the earliest events during immune response. A mutant mouse strain was generated by replacing the IL-2 gene with a cDNA encoding green fluorescent protein (GFP). In this model, GFP fluorescence is readily detectable upon T cell activation and is mostly coexpressed with IL-2 at the single cell level. Thus, individual activated T cells can express the IL-2 gene biallelically. Upon stimulation through the T cell antigen receptor, CD4+ cells separate into distinct GFP+ and GFP- populations, both of which are capable of differentiating into either Th1 or Th2 effectors. These mice allow noninvasive detection of IL-2 production by single cells and analysis of the subsequent differentiative fate of these cells as an immune response develops.
Naramura
M
M
Laboratory of Immunology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland 20852, USA.
Hu
R J
RJ
Gu
H
H
D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D017930:Genes, Reporter / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D015533:Transcriptional Activation / Q000235:genetics
D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D007376:Interleukin-2; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins