Non-invasive visualization of epidermal responses to injury using a fluorescent transgenic reporter.
We describe transgenic mice in which expression of a reporter, the yellow fluorescent protein (YFP), is locally activated in epidermal cells at sites of injury. YFP is detectable a day after injury; its levels peak within 3 d, and then decline over the subsequent week. Expression is also activated by a chemical irritant, and is suppressed by topical administration of hydrocortisone. These mice permit non-invasive time-lapse monitoring of responses to injury in vivo. They can be used to detect epidermal activation and to test agents that may provoke or attenuate epidermal responses.
Pan
Y Albert
YA
Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
Sanes
Joshua R
JR
D000818:Animals; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D000078404:Epidermal Cells; D004817:Epidermis / Q000293:injuries* / Q000502:physiology*; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000378:metabolism; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000502:physiology; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D018800:Thy-1 Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology*
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D018800:Thy-1 Antigens; C054562:yellow fluorescent protein, Bacteria