title: Sexually Dimorphic Expression of eGFP Transgene in the Akr1A1 Locus of Mouse Liver Regulated by Sex Hormone-Related Epigenetic Remodeling.
abstract: Sexually dimorphic gene expression is commonly found in the liver, and many of these genes are linked to different incidences of liver diseases between sexes. However, the mechanism of sexually dimorphic expression is still not fully understood. In this study, a pCAG-eGFP transgenic mouse strain with a specific transgene integration site in the Akr1A1 locus presented male-biased EGFP expression in the liver, and the expression was activated by testosterone during puberty. The integration of the pCAG-eGFP transgene altered the epigenetic regulation of the adjacent chromatin, including increased binding of STAT5b, a sexually dimorphic expression regulator, and the transformation of DNA methylation from hypermethylation into male-biased hypomethylation. Through this de novo sexually dimorphic expression of the transgene, the Akr1A1(eGFP) mouse provides a useful model to study the mechanisms and the dynamic changes of sexually dimorphic gene expression during either development or pathogenesis of the liver.
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences, and Agricultural Biotechnology Center, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Cheng-Wei
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioresources, Da-Yeh University, Changhua 515, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hsiao-Ling
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences, and Agricultural Biotechnology Center, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Tung-Chou
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences, and Agricultural Biotechnology Center, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Te-Wei
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan.|Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shang-Hsun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biotechnology and Laboratory Science, Chang Gung University, Tao-Yuan 333, Taiwan.|Department of Thoracic Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Tao-Yuan 333, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Kowit-Yu
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Chong
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences, and Agricultural Biotechnology Center, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402, Taiwan.|Rong-Hsing Translational Medicine Center, and iEGG Center, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chuan-Mu
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018899:CpG Islands; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000235:genetics; D019175:DNA Methylation; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D019901:Locus Control Region; D008297:Male; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / Q000378:metabolism; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013739:Testosterone / Q000494:pharmacology; D019076:Transgenes
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; C485184:enhanced green fluorescent protein; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol