Immunologic applications of conditional gene modification technology in the mouse.
Since the success of homologous recombination in altering mouse genome and the discovery of Cre-loxP system, the combination of these two breakthroughs has created important applications for studying the immune system in the mouse. Here, we briefly summarize the general principles of this technology and its applications in studying immune cell development and responses; such implications include conditional gene knockout and inducible and/or tissue-specific gene over-expression, as well as lineage fate mapping. We then discuss the pros and cons of a few commonly used Cre-expressing mouse lines for studying lymphocyte development and functions. We also raise several general issues, such as efficiency of gene deletion, leaky activity of Cre, and Cre toxicity, all of which may have profound impacts on data interpretation. Finally, we selectively list some useful links to the Web sites as valuable mouse resources.
Molecular and Cellular Immunoregulation Unit, Laboratory of Immunology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland.
Suveena
S
Sharma
Molecular and Cellular Immunoregulation Unit, Laboratory of Immunology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland.
Jinfang
J
Zhu
D000818:Animals; D017353:Gene Deletion; D055785:Gene Knockdown Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D019426:Integrases; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009928:Organ Specificity / Q000235:genetics
C045073:Cre recombinase; D019426:Integrases
Cre; bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC); conditional knockout; fate mapping; hematopoietic cells; inducible gene expression; loxP; lymphocyte cell development and differentiation; transgenic