The contribution of the Tie2+ lineage to primitive and definitive hematopoietic cells.
The regulatory elements of the Tie2/Tek promoter are commonly used in mouse models to direct transgene expression to endothelial cells. Tunica intima endothelial kinase 2 (Tie2) is also expressed in hematopoietic cells, although this has not been fully characterized. We determine the lineages of adult hematopoietic cells derived from Tie2-expressing populations using Tie2-Cre;Rosa26R-EYFP mice. In Tie2-Cre;Rosa26R-EYFP mice, analysis of bone marrow cells showed Cre-mediated recombination in 85% of the population. In adult bone marrow and spleen, we analyzed subclasses of early hematopoietic progenitors, T cells, monocytes, granulocytes, and B cells. We found that ∼ 84% of each lineage was EYFP(+), and nearly all cells that come from Tie2-expressing lineages are CD45(+), confirming widespread contribution to definitive hematopoietic cells. In addition, more than 82% of blood cells within the embryonic yolk sac were of Tie2(+) origin. Our findings of high levels of Tie2-Cre recombination in the hematopoietic lineage have implications for the use of the Tie2-Cre mouse as a lineage-restricted driver strain.
Tang
Yuefeng
Y
Center for Molecular Medicine, Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Scarborough, ME 04074, USA.
Harrington
Anne
A
Yang
Xuehui
X
Friesel
Robert E
RE
Liaw
Lucy
L
D000818:Animals; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D019426:Integrases / Q000378:metabolism; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D042787:Receptor, TIE-2; D011995:Recombination, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D013154:Spleen / Q000378:metabolism
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D017931:DNA Primers; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; C054562:yellow fluorescent protein, Bacteria; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D042787:Receptor, TIE-2; C079086:Tek protein, mouse; C045073:Cre recombinase; D019426:Integrases; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens