Widespread delta-like-1 expression in normal adult mouse tissue and injured endothelium is reflected by expression of the Dll1LacZ locus.
BACKGROUND
Our study characterizes Delta-like 1 (Dll1) in the adult mouse, particularly in normal versus injured vasculature, with the aid of the transgenic Dll1(LacZ) line.


METHODS
Normal mouse adult tissues or those from the Dll1(LacZ) reporter line were analyzed for Dll1 expression and promoter activity. Vascular tissue was analyzed before and after carotid artery ligation.


RESULTS
In wild-type mice, Dll1 transcript expression was widespread. Similarly, the Dll1(LacZ) reporter had beta-galactosidase activity detectable in the cerebellum, cerebrum, spinal cord, liver, lung and cornea, although the normal adult vasculature had no reporter expression. Following arterial ligation, there was acute induction of Dll1(LacZ) reporter expression, both in the ligated left carotid artery, and the uninjured right contralateral artery. Expression returned to low/undetectable levels 4-10 days after arterial ligation.


CONCLUSIONS
The expression of Dll1 in the adult mouse is more widespread than previously realized, although not in resting large arteries in the adult mouse. Following arterial injury, Dll1 promoter activity is induced selectively in the endothelial cells of both the injured artery and the contralateral uninjured artery. Our results show that while overall expression in the adult mouse is widespread, Dll1 may be selectively expressed in the endothelium of injured vasculature, similar to the endothelial-restricted expression of Dll4.
Miceli-Libby
Laura
L
Center for Molecular Medicine, Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Scarborough, ME, USA.
Johnson
Michael J
MJ
Harrington
Anne
A
Hara-Kaonga
Bochiwe
B
Ng
Ah-Kau
AK
Liaw
Lucy
L
D000818:Animals; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D007763:Lac Operon; D008026:Ligation; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; C512925:Dlk1 protein, mouse; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger