title: Characterization of Cre recombinase activity for in vivo targeting of adipocyte precursor cells.
abstract: The increased incidence of obesity and metabolic disease underscores the importance of elucidating the biology of adipose tissue development. The recent discovery of cell surface markers for prospective identification of adipose precursor cells (APCs) in vivo will greatly facilitate these studies, yet tools for specifically targeting these cells in vivo have not been identified. Here, we survey three transgenic mouse lines, Fabp4-Cre, PdgfRα-Cre, and Prx1-Cre, precisely assessing Cre-mediated recombination in adipose stromal populations and mature tissues. Our data provide key insights into the utility of these tools to modulate gene expression in adipose tissues. In particular, Fabp4-Cre is not effective to target APCs, nor is its activity restricted to these cells. PdgfRα-Cre directs recombination in the vast majority of APCs, but also targets other populations. In contrast, adipose expression of Prx1-Cre is chiefly limited to subcutaneous inguinal APCs, which will be valuable for dissection of APC functions among adipose depots.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics/Endocrinology, Stanford University School of Medicine, 300 Pasteur Drive, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
authors.forename: Katherine C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Krueger
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics/Endocrinology, Stanford University School of Medicine, 300 Pasteur Drive, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
authors.forename: Maria José
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics/Endocrinology, Stanford University School of Medicine, 300 Pasteur Drive, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
authors.forename: Hongqing
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Du
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics/Endocrinology, Stanford University School of Medicine, 300 Pasteur Drive, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University, 300 Pasteur Drive, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Program in Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University, 300 Pasteur Drive, Stanford, CA 94305, USA. Electronic address: feldman@stanford.edu.
authors.forename: Brian J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Feldman
mesh_terms: D017667:Adipocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D050156:Adipogenesis / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D050556:Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D018390:Gene Targeting; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D059765:Homologous Recombination; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D019426:Integrases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009928:Organ Specificity / Q000235:genetics; D010641:Phenotype; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D020796:Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor alpha / Q000235:genetics; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C493411:Fabp4 protein, mouse; D050556:Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; C489936:Prrx1 protein, mouse; D020796:Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor alpha; C045073:Cre recombinase; D019426:Integrases