title: Generation and characterization of alpha-chymase-Cre transgenic mice.
abstract: The Cre-loxP technology allows the introduction of somatic gene alterations in a tissue and/or cell type specific manner. The development of transgenes that target Cre expression to specific cell types is a critical component in this system. Here, we describe the generation and characterization of transgenic mouse lines expressing Cre recombinase under the control of the baboon alpha-chymase promoter, designated Chm:Cre, in order to direct Cre expression specifically to mouse mast cells. Chm:Cre expression was detected in mast cells in lung and colon tissue. Cre-mediated recombination in these mice identified a population of mature tissue resident mast cells using ROSA26R reporter mice. No Cre-expression and Cre-mediated recombination was induced in in vitro generated bone marrow derived mast cells or mast cells isolated from the peritoneal cavity indicating that Cre-expression under the control of the alpha-chymase promoter is solely activated in tissue resident mast cells. These Chm:Cre transgenic mice represent a useful tool to specifically inactivate genes of interest in mast cells of these tissues.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Immunology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Werner
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Müsch
authors.forename: Anja K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Wege
authors.forename: Daniela N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Männel
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hehlgans
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D053818:Chymases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D003106:Colon / Q000378:metabolism; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D019426:Integrases / Q000235:genetics*; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000235:genetics; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D010215:Papio / Q000235:genetics; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D022661:RNA, Untranslated
chemical_list: C110853:Gt(ROSA)26Sor non-coding RNA, mouse; D007527:Isoenzymes; D011506:Proteins; D022661:RNA, Untranslated; C045073:Cre recombinase; D019426:Integrases; D053818:Chymases