title: A novel adipose-specific gene deletion model demonstrates potential pitfalls of existing methods.
abstract: Adipose-specific gene deletion in mice is crucial in determining gene function in adipocyte homeostasis and the development of obesity. We noted 100% mortality when the Hdac3 gene was conditionally deleted using Fabp4-Cre mice, the most commonly used model of adipose-targeted Cre recombinase. However, this surprising result was not reproduced using other models of adipose targeting of Cre, including a novel Retn-Cre mouse. These findings underscore the need for caution when interpreting data obtained using Fabp4-Cre mice and should encourage the use of additional or alternative adipose-targeting Cre mouse models before drawing conclusions about in vivo adipocyte-specific functions.
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, and The Institute for Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolism, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA.
authors.forename: Shannon E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Mullican
authors.forename: Takuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tomaru
authors.forename: Christine A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Gaddis
authors.forename: Lindsey C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Peed
authors.forename: Anand
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sundaram
authors.forename: Mitchell A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Lazar
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004822:Epididymis / Q000201:enzymology / Q000503:physiopathology; D050556:Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D017353:Gene Deletion; D005804:Genes, Lethal; D005818:Genetic Engineering; D006655:Histone Deacetylases / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009765:Obesity / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D009928:Organ Specificity; D010641:Phenotype; D000099186:Histone Deacetylase 3
chemical_list: D050556:Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins; D006655:Histone Deacetylases; D000099186:Histone Deacetylase 3; C493411:Fabp4 protein, mouse