title: Generation of a transgenic mouse model with chondrocyte-specific and tamoxifen-inducible expression of Cre recombinase.
abstract: Postnatal cartilage development and growth are regulated by key growth factors and signaling molecules. To fully understand the function of these regulators, an inducible and chondrocyte-specific gene deletion system needs to be established to circumvent the perinatal lethality. In this report, we have generated a transgenic mouse model (Col2a1-CreER(T2)) in which expression of the Cre recombinase is driven by the chondrocyte-specific col2a1 promoter in a tamoxifen-inducible manner. To determine the specificity and efficiency of the Cre recombination, we have bred Col2a1-CreER(T2) mice with Rosa26R reporter mice. The X-Gal staining showed that the Cre recombination is specifically achieved in cartilage tissues with tamoxifen-induction. In vitro experiments of chondrocyte cell culture also demonstrate the 4-hydroxy tamoxifen-induced Cre recombination. These results demonstrate that Col2a1-CreER(T2) transgenic mice can be used as a valuable tool for an inducible and chondrocyte-specific gene deletion approach.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Center for Musculoskeletal Research, University of Rochester School of Medicine, Rochester, New York 14642, USA.
authors.forename: Mo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Alexander C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Lichtler
authors.forename: Tzong-Jen
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Sheu
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Xinping
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Regis J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: O'Keefe
authors.forename: Di
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002356:Cartilage / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D024043:Collagen Type II / Q000235:genetics; D003433:Crosses, Genetic; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D019426:Integrases / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: C447413:Col2a1 protein, mouse; D024043:Collagen Type II; D013629:Tamoxifen; C045073:Cre recombinase; D019426:Integrases