The Blimp-1 gene regulatory region directs EGFP expression in multiple hematopoietic lineages and testis in mice.
The B lymphocyte-induced maturation protein-1 (Blimp-1) is a transcriptional repressor involved in B cell terminal differentiation. Recent studies suggest that it also plays roles in the differentiation of myeloid and T cells. Using reporter gene analysis, we found that the mouse Blimp-1 promoter constructs of 4.4 kb, 2.5 kb and 1.6 kb exerted similar transcription activity in vitro. To study the Blimp-1 promoter function in vivo, we generated a mouse transgenic line in which the expression of EGFP is driven by the 4.4 kb Blimp-1 promoter fragment. EGFP expression was detected in multiple hematopoietic lineages including hematopoietic progenitor cells (c-kit+), B cells at various developmental stages (B220+, IgM+, IgD+ and CD138+), myeloid cells (Gr1+ and CD11b+) and T cells (CD4+ and CD8+). Furthermore, we demonstrated, for the first time, that this Blimp-1 promoter fragment also drives EGFP expression in erythroid lineage (Ter119+) and embryonic livers. Finally, EGFP was expressed in the testes of transgenic mice in a cell-specific manner with expression weakly in primary spermatocytes and strongly in spermatids, but not in spermatogonia or spermatozoa. Our studies collectively suggest that Blimp-1 may play a general role in the development of hematopoietic lineages and a stage-specific role in spermatogenesis.
Wang
Dingyan
D
Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Princess Margaret Hospital, University Health Network, 620 University Avenue, Room 8-205, Toronto, ON, Canada, M5G 2C1.
Zhuang
Lihua
L
Gao
Bo
B
Shi
Chang-Xin
CX
Cheung
Joseph
J
Liu
Mingyao
M
Jin
Tianru
T
Wen
Xiao-Yan
XY
D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D019070:Cell Lineage; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D008156:Luciferases / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D022423:Myeloid Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D000074462:Positive Regulatory Domain I-Binding Factor 1; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012045:Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid / Q000502:physiology*; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013090:Spermatocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D014162:Transfection
D017931:DNA Primers; C513258:Prdm1 protein, mouse; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C485184:enhanced green fluorescent protein; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D008156:Luciferases; D000074462:Positive Regulatory Domain I-Binding Factor 1