title: Molecular imaging of nuclear factor-Y transcriptional activity maps proliferation sites in live animals.
abstract: In vivo imaging involving the use of genetically engineered animals is an innovative powerful tool for the noninvasive assessment of the molecular and cellular events that are often targets of therapy. On the basis of the knowledge that the activity of the nuclear factor-Y (NF-Y) transcription factor is restricted in vitro to proliferating cells, we have generated a transgenic reporter mouse, called MITO-Luc (for mitosis-luciferase), in which an NF-Y-dependent promoter controls luciferase expression. In these mice, bioluminescence imaging of NF-Y activity visualizes areas of physiological cell proliferation and regeneration during response to injury. Using this tool, we highlight for the first time a role of NF-Y activity on hepatocyte proliferation during liver regeneration. MITO-Luc reporter mice should facilitate investigations into the involvement of genes in cell proliferation and provide a useful model for studying aberrant proliferation in disease pathogenesis. They should be also useful in the development of new anti/proproliferative drugs and assessment of their efficacy and side effects on nontarget tissues.
authors.affiliation: Experimental Oncology Department, Istituto Regina Elena, 00158 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Frauke
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Goeman
authors.forename: Isabella
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Manni
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Artuso
authors.forename: Balaji
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ramachandran
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Toietta
authors.forename: Gianluca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bossi
authors.forename: Gianpaolo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rando
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cencioni
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Germoni
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Straino
authors.forename: Maurizio C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Capogrossi
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bacchetti
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maggi
authors.forename: Ada
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sacchi
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ciana
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Piaggio
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D023081:CCAAT-Binding Factor / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000235:genetics; D002460:Cell Line; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D056765:Cyclin B2 / Q000235:genetics; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D008115:Liver Regeneration; D008156:Luciferases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D057054:Molecular Imaging; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D023081:CCAAT-Binding Factor; C503759:Ccnb2 protein, mouse; D056765:Cyclin B2; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D008156:Luciferases