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Abnormal enamel development in a cystic fibrosis transgenic mouse model.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a hereditary condition that affects cAMP-regulated chloride channels in epithelial tissues due to a defect in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene. Recently, a transgenic CF mouse model was developed at UNC that exhibits no CFTR expression. Interestingly, the CF mouse demonstrates abnormal incisor enamel. Therefore, the purpose of this investigation was to characterize the enamel in this CF mouse model. Incisors from CF and normal mice were evaluated by light microscopy (LM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The enamel proteins were examined by amino acid analysis, SDS-PAGE, and Western blot. Gross examination showed that 100% of CF mice had soft, chalky white incisor enamel, while the enamel of normal mice was hard and yellow-brown. LM indicated that the ameloblasts in the CF mice underwent premature degeneration shortly after completion of the secretory phase. The CF mouse enamel appeared to be of relatively normal thickness and showed a prism structure similar to that of normal mouse enamel. However, the CF mouse enamel crystallites appeared to have a rough granular surface compared with normal enamel. SDS-PAGE indicated that mature CF enamel retained low-molecular-weight material (approximately 20 kDa), whereas normal mature enamel did not. This low-molecular-weight material cross-reacted with anti-amelogenin antibodies in Western blot analysis. This investigation shows that abnormal CFTR expression in the mouse results in developmental abnormalities in the incisor enamel. Although further investigation is required to determine the mechanism leading to abnormal enamel formation, the CF mouse provides a potentially useful animal model for investigating aberrant enamel development.

Amelogenesis↗

The use of transgenic mouse models to investigate the immune mechanisms of allergic contact dermatitis: an area of emerging opportunities.

Transgenic mouse technology has been used extensively to investigate biomedically important issues in such diverse areas as mammalian development, neurophysiology, and immunology. It has also been used to develop models for several disease states that have significant medical impact. The power of this technology, which allows for either the expression of genes of interest in defined tissues or the engineered loss of function for certain genes, offers great opportunity to enhance our understanding of the complex events that culminate in allergic contact dermatitis (ACD). Recently several lines of preexisting or newly generated transgenic mice have been employed in this task. However, the use of transgenic mice in the investigation of ACD is still in the early stages and, therefore, there are many as yet unexploited opportunities in this area. The purpose of this review is to describe how the results of recent experiments employing transgenic mice have impacted on our current understanding of ACD and to enumerate possible future opportunities for the use of transgenic mouse technology to further advance that understanding.

Animals↗

Transgenic mouse model of kidney disease: insertional inactivation of ubiquitously expressed gene leads to nephrotic syndrome.

Transgenic mouse strains carrying proviruses were generated by exposing mouse embryos to a recombinant retrovirus. Animals carrying a single provirus were intercrossed to derive mice homozygous for a given proviral insertion. Adult mice homozygous for the Mpv17 integration developed nephrotic syndrome and chronic renal failure. Histologically, affected kidneys showed progressive glomerular sclerosis. Similar lesions are seen in patients with progressive renal function deterioration. A probe to DNA sequences flanking the provirus detected a 1.7 kb RNA ubiquitously expressed during embryogenesis and in adults with high levels in kidney, brain, and heart. This RNA was not detected in tissues of homozygous animals, suggesting that the provirus interferes with RNA expression. Sequence analysis of the cDNA revealed that the gene encodes a 176 amino acid peptide containing hydrophobic regions, suggesting membrane association of the putative protein. The Mpv17 mutant is a potentially useful experimental system for studying mechanisms leading to renal disorders in man.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Degeneration of corticospinal and bulbospinal systems in the superoxide dismutase 1(G93A G1H) transgenic mouse model of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

In the superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1)(G93A G1H) transgenic mouse, the primary pathology and disease signs are associated with the degeneration of motor neurons in the lumbar spinal cord. It is unclear if the descending motor pathways from the cortex and brainstem are also compromised. The retrograde tracer Fluorogold was inserted into the T(12) segment of the spinal cord and the number of labelled neurons counted in the sensorimotor cortex and brainstem of 60, 90 and 110 day-old mice. A small loss of corticospinal and bulbospinal projections was detected at 60 days. By 110 days, 53% of corticospinal, 41% of bulbospinal and 43% of rubrospinal neurons were lost. The progressive loss of corticospinal axons was confirmed using the stereological fractionator method. These findings suggest that the expression of the SOD1(G93A G1H) mutant protein results in a disease that resembles the late stages of human motor neuron disease. This involves not only the destruction of lower motor neurons in the spinal cord, but also additional loss of descending cortical and bulbar neurons.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis↗

Transgenic mouse models of muscle aging.

In the last decade transgenic animals have been become a powerful and exciting research model to study the molecular mechanisms underlying the cellular and physiological processes such as cell growth, differentiation, apoptosis, and the regulation of specific gene expression. In the context of skeletal muscle development, transgenic mice and gene-targeting approaches have led to the definition of specific roles for Muscle Regulatory Factors (MRFs) during embryogenesis, although less is known about the molecular mechanism underlying skeletal muscle aging. Recent studies using specific models of transgenic mice have added new insights into the muscle aging process, providing a baseline for designing appropriate strategies to attenuate or to reverse the cumulative effects of aging. In this review we discuss some of the transgenic models currently available to address the molecular mechanisms of skeletal muscle senescence. Given the complexity of the aging process, this review should be regarded as a presentation of works in progress rather than a comprehensive description of muscle aging.

Aging↗

Transgenic mouse model of malignant skin melanoma.

Tyr-SV40E transgenic mice are specifically susceptible to melanoma due to expression of the oncogene in pigment cells. Mice of the more susceptible lines die young of early-onset eye melanomas, when skin melanomas are still infrequent and benign. To surmount this obstacle, skin from donors of two high-susceptibility lines was grafted to Tyr-SV40E hosts of a low-susceptibility line of the same inbred strain, thereby enabling the skin to outlive the donors and continue to grow in immunocompetent but tolerant hosts. Unexpectedly, donor pigment cells in all the grafts soon selectively proliferated close to areas of greatest wound healing, forming a dense black tracery, especially at the outer rim of the grafts. These lesions slowly grew radially within the grafts, producing irregular greyish patches. Local vertical thickenings then appeared and developed into small melanomas, which soon ulcerated through the epidermis. The tumors rapidly enlarged and became deeply invasive. Discrete black nevi also arose, with many becoming larger and distinctly blue, but those not near areas of pronounced wound healing did not progress to malignancy. In this first series, malignant melanoma resulted in all the grafts from the more susceptible of two donor lines and in some grafts from the other line. Distant metastases occurred in some cases from each line. Most tumors were hypomelanotic and heterogeneous, with lobes or areas differing in melanization. The results strongly suggest that growth factors and cytokines--known to be produced in wound repair--are triggering the growth and malignant conversion of these genetically susceptible melanocytes and that in the graft situation we are merely witnessing a caricature--a usefully exaggerated manifestation of the true events underlying the genesis of melanomas. The striking resemblance to the human malignancy, the genetic uniformity and different susceptibilities of the transgenic lines, and the experimental possibilities in the grafted mice all make them an excellent model of the disease.

Animals↗

Anti-hepatitis B virus activity of ORI-9020, a novel phosphorothioate dinucleotide, in a transgenic mouse model.

ORI-9020, a novel dinucleotide, evaluated in transgenic mice expressing hepatitis B virus (HBV), significantly reduced liver HBV DNA (P </= 0.001). Levels of HBeAg and HBsAg in serum and of HBcAg in liver were not affected by treatment. A minimal effective dosage was determined to be between 1.6 and 0.5 mg/kg of body weight/day, which was similar to that observed for adefovir dipivoxil.

Animals↗

Over-expression of oxytocin in the testes of a transgenic mouse model.

The bovine oxytocin gene has been expressed in the testes of two independent transgenic mouse lines. Hybridization and RNase protection analysis showed that the oxytocin transgene was transcribed from the normal functional promoter in the Sertoli cells of the seminiferous tubules in a developmentally regulated manner. Immunohistochemistry indicated that both oxytocin and neurophysin epitopes were expressed together in the Sertoli cells at stages I-V and X-XII of the cycle of the seminiferous epithelium. Furthermore, analysis with high-performance liquid chromatography showed that there was a tenfold increase in the amount of amidated oxytocin present in testicular extracts from the transgenic mice. However, there appeared to be no detectable effect of this overproduction of hormone on testicular morphology or fertility parameters. A significant decrease by 50% was detected only in the levels of intratesticular testosterone and dihydrotestosterone. The results point to a local paracrine role for oxytocin in the modulation of Leydig cell function.

Animals↗

Modulation of medullary thyroid carcinoma penetrance suggests the presence of modifier genes in a RET transgenic mouse model.

We described previously a thyroid phenotype for transgenic mice expressing an activated Ret oncogene driven from a human calcitonin promoter. Medullary thyroid carcinomas (MTC), a tumor of the thyroid parafollicular C cells, occur in this transgenic line with a pathology analogous to that seen in patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN2). When the transgene was introgressed onto four different genetic backgrounds, between 0 and 98% of transgenic progeny developed thyroid tumors by 10 months of age, indicating that tumor penetrance could be modulated by genetic background. Furthermore, tumors on the CBA/ca and C57BL/6J backgrounds were significantly larger than those arising in BALB/c transgenic mice. These results are relevant to human MEN2 disease, because this model system may be used to study genes modifying thyroid tumor penetrance in the dominantly inherited human cancer syndrome.

Animals↗

Vertical transmission of bovine spongiform encephalopathy prions evaluated in a transgenic mouse model.

In this work we show evidence of mother-to-offspring transmission in a transgenic mouse line expressing bovine PrP (boTg) experimentally infected by intracerebral administration of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) prions. PrP(res) was detected in brains of newborns from infected mothers only when mating was allowed near to the clinical stage of disease, when brain PrP(res) deposition could be detected by Western blot analysis. Attempts to detect infectivity in milk after intracerebral inoculation in boTg mice were unsuccessful, suggesting the involvement of other tissues as carriers of prion dissemination. The results shown here prove the ability of BSE prions to spread centrifugally from the central nervous system to peripheral tissues and to offspring in a mouse model. Also, these results may complement previous epidemiological data supporting the occurrence of vertical BSE transmission in cattle.

Animals↗

Distinct behavioral and neuropathological abnormalities in transgenic mouse models of HD and DRPLA.

Huntington's disease (HD) and Dentatorubral and pallidoluysian atrophy (DRPLA) are autosomal dominant, neurodegenerative disorders caused by the expansion of polyglutamine tracts in their respective proteins, huntingtin and atrophin-1. We have previously generated mouse models of these disorders, using transgenes expressed via the prion protein promoter. Here, we report the first direct comparison of abnormalities in these models. The HD mice show abbreviated lifespans (4-6 months), hypoactivity, and mild impairment of motor skills. The DRPLA mice show severe tremors, are hyperactive, and are profoundly uncoordinated. Neuropathological analyses reveal that the distribution of diffuse nuclear immunolabeling and neuronal intranuclear inclusions (NII's), in the CNS of both models, was remarkably similar. Cytoplasmic aggregates of huntingtin were the major distinguishing neuropathological feature of the HD mice; mutant atrophin-1 accumulated/aggregated only in the nucleus. We suggest that the distinct behavioral and neuropathological phenotypes in these mice reflect differences in the way these mutant proteins perturb neuronal function.

Aggression↗

A transgenic mouse model for human autosomal dominant cataract.

PURPOSE: To characterize lenses from transgenic mice designed to express mutant and wild-type alphaA-crystallin subunits. METHODS: A series of transgenic mouse strains was created to express mutant (R116C) and wild-type human alphaA-crystallin in fiber cells of the lens. Dissected lenses were phenotypically scored for the presence and extent of opacities, fiber cell morphology, and posterior suture morphology. Gene transcripts derived from integrated transgenes were detected by reverse transcriptase-PCR. Distribution of expressed transgenic protein was determined by immunohistochemical staining of lens tissue sections. The abundance of endogenous and transgenic lens proteins was estimated by quantitative Western blot analysis. RESULTS: Expression of R116C mutant alphaA-crystallin subunits resulted in posterior cortical cataracts and abnormalities associated with the posterior suture. The severity of lens abnormalities did not increase between the ages of 9 and 30 weeks. With respect to opacities and morphologic abnormalities, lenses from transgenic mice that express wild-type human alphaA-crystallin subunits were indistinguishable from age-matched nontransgenic control mice. Similar phenotypes were observed in different independent lines of R116C transgenic mice that differed by at least two orders of magnitude in the expression level of the mutant transgenic protein. CONCLUSIONS: The results show that lens opacities and posterior sutural defects occur when mutant R116C alphaA-crystallin subunits are expressed on the background of wild-type endogenous mouse alpha-crystallins. Low levels of R116C alphaA-crystallin subunits are sufficient to induce lens opacities and sutural defects.

Animals↗

Bub1 up-regulation and hyperphosphorylation promote malignant transformation in SV40 tag-induced transgenic mouse models.

Rodents do not naturally develop prostate cancer. Currently, most widely used genetically engineered mouse prostate cancer models use SV40 T/tag oncogene. To understand the mechanism underlying prostate cancer development in transgenic and knock-in SV40 Tag mouse models, we did cDNA microarray analyses, comparing gene expression profiles of prostate cancer tissues from early-, late-, and advance-stage androgen-independent prostate cancers. Of the 67 genes that were up-regulated by > or = 10-fold, 40 are known to be required for chromosome stability. In particular, the spindle checkpoint component Bub1 was persistently up-regulated from early to advanced androgen-independent prostate cancer lesions. Significantly, Bub1, which is required for accurate chromosome segregation during mitosis, has recently been reported to bind SV40 Tag. Consistent with a spindle checkpoint defect, flow cytometry experiments indicate that advanced androgen-independent prostate cancer tumors exhibit aneuploidy, along with up-regulation of levels of both Bub1 mRNA and Bub1 protein or hyperphosphorylation. Importantly, up-regulation and hyperphosphorylation of Bub1 were also observed in established human prostate cancer cell lines and in clinical studies. Furthermore, analysis of human prostate cancer lines showed impaired spindle checkpoint function and endoreduplication following exposure to spindle toxins. Small interfering RNA-mediated repression of Bub1 in the human prostate cancer line PC-3 restrained cell proliferation, an effect mimicked by inhibition of mitogen-activated protein kinase, an upstream activator of Bub1. Thus, by perturbing Bub1 function, our observations suggest a new mechanism whereby the SV40 Tag oncoprotein promotes chromosomal instability and aneuploidy in transgenic mouse prostate cancer models. Whereas the exact details of this mechanism remain unclear, our novel findings raise the possibility of exploiting Bub1 as a new therapeutic target in the treatment of prostate cancer, the most common cancer in adult men in North America.

Animals↗

Vitamin E uncouples joint destruction and clinical inflammation in a transgenic mouse model of rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: Reactive oxygen species are thought to play a role in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in humans. We postulated that antioxidant treatment could have a beneficial effect in this disease. We therefore investigated the effects of vitamin E in the transgenic KRN/NOD mouse model of RA. METHODS: Mice were treated by gavage with oral vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol). Clinical, histologic, and biochemical parameters were assessed for 6 weeks. RESULTS: Vitamin E treatment did not modify the clinical features of the disease (date of onset or disease intensity, as measured by the articular index), but it did prevent joint destruction, as measured by qualitative and semiquantitative analyses. Redox status did not differ between treated and control mice. White blood cell chemiluminescence was higher in transgenic KRN/NOD mice than in controls, but vitamin E treatment attenuated this difference. Vitamin E treatment of the transgenic animals led to a significant decrease in the levels of interleukin-(IL-1beta) but not tumor necrosis factor alpha. CONCLUSION: Vitamin E seems to uncouple joint inflammation and joint destruction in this model of RA, with a beneficial effect on joint destruction. Since many investigations are currently in progress to evaluate the benefit of interventions targeted toward anti-IL-1beta, our findings suggest opportunities of therapeutic interest in human RA.

Animals↗

Transgenic mouse model for skin malignant melanoma.

We report here on a novel metallothionein-I (MT)/ret transgenic mouse line in which skin melanosis, benign melanocytic tumor and malignant melanoma metastasizing to distant organs develop stepwise. The process of tumor development and its malignant transformation in this line may resemble that of the human giant congenital melanocytic nevus that is present at birth and that frequently gives rise to malignant melanoma during aging. We observed an increase in the expression level and activity of the ret transgene during the disease progression. That increase in transgene expression accompanied an activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and c-Jun as well as matrix metalloproteinases. These results suggest that progressive dysregulation of the expression level of the ret transgene might play a crucial role in the malignant transformation of melanocytic tumors developed in the MT/ret transgenic mouse line.

Animals↗

Transgenic mouse model for breast cancer: induction of breast cancer in novel oncogene HCCR-2 transgenic mice.

Transgenic mice containing novel oncogene HCCR-2 were generated to analyse the phenotype and to characterize the role of HCCR-2 in cellular events. Mice transgenic for HCCR-2 developed breast cancers and metastasis. The level of p53 in HCCR-2 transgenic mice was elevated in most tissues including breast, brain, heart, lung, liver, stomach, kidney, spleen, and lymph node. We examined whether stabilized p53 is functional in HCCR-2 transgenic mice. Defective induction of p53 responsive genes including p21WAF1, MDM2, and bax indicates that stabilized p53 in HCCR-2 transgenic mice exists in an inactive form. These results suggest that HCCR-2 represents an oncoprotein that is related to breast cancer development and regulation of the p53 tumor suppressor.

Animals↗

Transgenic mouse model of hemifacial microsomia: cloning and characterization of insertional mutation region on chromosome 10.

The 643 transgenic mouse line carries an autosomal dominant insertional mutation that results in hemifacial microsomia (HFM), including microtia and/or abnormal biting. In this paper, we characterize the transgene integration site in transgenic mice and preintegration site of wildtype mice. The locus, designated Hfm (hemifacial microsomia-associated locus), was mapped to chromosome 10, B1-3, by chromosome in situ hybridization. We cloned the transgene insertion site from the transgenic DNA library. By using the 5' and 3' flanking sequences, the preintegration region was isolated. The analysis of these regions showed that a deletion of at least 23 kb DNA occurred in association with the transgene integration. Evolutionarily conserved regions were detected within and beside the deleted region. The result of mating between hemizygotes suggests that the phenotype of the homozygote is lethality in the prenatal period. These results suggest that the Hfm locus is necessary for prenatal development and that this strain is a useful animal model for investigating the genetic predisposition to HFM in humans.

Animals↗

Syndecan-1 expression is upregulated in degenerating articular cartilage in a transgenic mouse model for osteoarthritis.

OBJECTIVE: Mice heterozygous for the Del1 transgene locus with a short deletion mutation in the type II collagen gene develop early-onset degenerative changes in the knee joints that progress to end-stage osteoarthritis by the age of 12-15 months. This study focuses on the expression and distribution of syndecan-1, a cell-surface heparan sulfate proteoglycan, during the development of osteoarthritic cartilage degeneration, to better understand its role in this disease. METHODS: Northern analyses of total RNA extracted from knee joints of transgenic Del1 mice and their nontransgenic controls were used to monitor changes in syndecan-1 mRNA levels during development, growth, ageing, and cartilage degeneration. Immunohistochemistry was used to study the distribution of syndecan-1 in the knee joints at different stages of cartilage degeneration. RESULTS: Syndecan-1 mRNA was present in knee joints throughout life, with the highest mRNA levels in ageing knee joints. In Del1 mice, a transient upregulation of syndecan-1 mRNA synthesis was observed at the age of 6 months coinciding with early stages of cartilage degeneration and a period of attempted repair. Immunostaining for syndecan-1 was most intense in chondrocytes of superficial and intermediate zones of articular cartilage adjacent to defect areas. Chondrocyte clusters also stained strongly for syndecan-1. CONCLUSION: The present temporospatial expression data on upregulation of syndecan-1 in articular cartilage during early stages of cartilage degeneration suggest that this molecule is involved in the attempted repair of cartilage fibrillations. Combined with the known role of syndecan-1 during skeletal development and wound healing, this interesting finding warrants further validation.

Animals↗