B6.Cg-Tg(Itgax-cre)1-1Reiz/J

Stock number: 008068
Product name: Cd11c-Cre
Strain synonyms: CD11cCre^T
Research areas: Developmental Biology Research, Hematological Research, Immunology, Inflammation and Autoimmunity Research, Research Tools

Description

Mice harboring the Itgax-cre (Cd11c-Cre) BAC transgene express Cre recombinase under control of the integrin alpha X gene (Itgax or Cd11c) promoter/enhancer regions within the BAC transgene. These Cd11c-Cre transgenic mice are a Cre-lox tool for deletion of floxed sequences in CD8^-, CD8⁺ dendritic cells, tissue-derived dendritic cells from lymph nodes, lung and epidermis, as well as plasmacytoid dendritic cells. This strain may be useful for studying dendritic cell homeostasis and function.

Detailed description

Mice hemizygous for the Itgax-cre (Cd11c-Cre) transgene are viable, fertile, normal in size and do not display any gross physical or behavioral abnormalities. These Cd11c-Cre transgenic mice express Cre recombinase under the control of the mouse integrin alpha X (Cd11c) promoter. Cre-mediated recombination is detected in more than 95% of conventional CD11c^high dendritic cells both from lymphoid organs and from non-lymphoid tissues such as lung and epidermis, and in 50-80% of plasmacytoid dendritic cells. The dendritic cell compartment of transgenic mice is normal. Relatively low amounts of recombination are detected in lymphocytes (<10%), NK cells (12%), and myeloid cells (<1%). No increase of recombination frequency was observed in CD11c^low- activated T cells. These Cd11c-cre transgenic mice (as well as CD11c-Cre-GFP transgenic mice (see Stock No. 007567)) are an effective tool for generating tissue-specific targeted mutants for studying dendritic cell homeostasis and function.

View cre expression characterization.

Development

The Itgax-cre (Cd11c-Cre) BAC transgene was designed in the laboratory of Dr. Boris Reizis (Columbia University Medical Center). The mouse bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) RP24-361C4, containing the integrin alpha X gene (Itgax or Cd11c) but lacking the 5prime end of the adjacent Itgam gene, was obtained. A Cre recombinase and a polyA signal sequence was introduced into the first exon of Itgax on the RP24-361C4 BAC via homologous recombination/BAC recombineering. The resulting ~160 kbp transgenic construct was introduced into B6CBAF1/J donor eggs. Founder line 1-1 was consequently established. The mice were crossed to 129S6/SvEvTac for several generations and then backcrossed to C57BL/6 for more than 12 generations prior to sending to The Jackson Laboratory Repository in 2007. Upon arrival, the mice were crossed to C57BL/6J at least once to establish the living colony.

In 2010, A 32 SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) panel analysis, with 27 markers covering all 19 chromosomes and the X chromosome, as well as 5 markers that distinguish between the C57BL/6J and C57BL/6N substrains, was performed on the living colony at The Jackson Laboratory Repository. While the 27 markers throughout the genome suggested a C57BL/6 genetic background, 2 of 5 markers that determine C57BL/6J from C57BL/6N were found to be segregating. These data suggest the Donating Investigator used C57BL/6N in the development of the strain.

Allele

Symbol: Tg(Itgax-cre)1-1Reiz
Name: transgene insertion 1-1, Boris Reizis
MGI accession ID: MGI:3763248
Generation method: Transgenic
Attributes: Recombinase-expressing
Marker symbol: Tg(Itgax-cre)1-1Reiz
Marker name: transgene insertion 1-1, Boris Reizis
Chromosome: UN
Strain of origin: (C57BL/6 x CBA)F1
Expressed genes: cre,cre recombinase,bacteriophage P1
Site of expression: most conventional CD11c^high dendritic cells and many plasmacytoid dendritic cells; low expression in lymphocytes, NK cells, and myeloid cells
Molecular note: A transgenic construct containing sequence encoding cre recombinase under the control of the mouse integrin alpha X (Cd11c) promoter, and a bovine growth hormone poly A signal sequence, was introduced into B6CBAF1/J donor eggs. BAC clone RP24-361C4 (BACPAC Resources) containing the Itgax (Cd11c) gene but lacking the 5' end of the adjacent Itgam gene, was modified by ET recombination to generated the transgene construct. Founder line 1-1 was consequently established. Cre recombinase expression is detected in CD8-, CD8+ dendritic cells, tissue derived dendritic cells from lymph nodes, lung and epidermis and plasmacytoid dendritic cells. Background recombination is detected in lymphocytes (<10%) and myeloid cells (<1%).