VE-cadherin-CreERT2 transgenic mouse: a model for inducible recombination in the endothelium.
To introduce temporal control in genetic experiments targeting the endothelium, we established a mouse line expressing tamoxifen-inducible Cre-recombinase (Cre-ERT2) under the regulation of the vascular endothelial cadherin promoter (VECad). Specificity and efficiency of Cre activity was documented by crossing VECad-Cre-ERT2 with the ROSA26R reporter mouse, in which a floxed-stop cassette has been placed upstream of the beta-galactosidase gene. We found that tamoxifen specifically induced widespread recombination in the endothelium of embryonic, neonatal, and adult tissues. Recombination was also documented in tumor-associated vascular beds and in postnatal angiogenesis assays. Furthermore, injection of tamoxifen in adult animals resulted in negligible excision (lower than 0.4%) in the hematopoietic lineage. The VECad-Cre-ERT2 mouse is likely to be a valuable tool to study the function of genes involved in vascular development, homeostasis, and in complex processes involving neoangiogenesis, such as tumor growth.
Monvoisin
Arnaud
A
Department of Molecular Cellular and Developmental Biology, UCLA, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA.
Alva
Jackelyn A
JA
Hofmann
Jennifer J
JJ
Zovein
Ann C
AC
Lane
Timothy F
TF
Iruela-Arispe
M Luisa
ML
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000235:genetics*; D015820:Cadherins / Q000235:genetics*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D019426:Integrases / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D008957:Models, Genetic; D011247:Pregnancy; D011995:Recombination, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000494:pharmacology; D000099152:Cadherin 5
D015703:Antigens, CD; D015820:Cadherins; D019426:Integrases; D013629:Tamoxifen; D000099152:Cadherin 5; C045073:Cre recombinase