Tidhar A, Reichenstein M, Cohen D, Faerman A, Copeland N G, Gilbert D J, Jenkins N A, Shani M
Institute of Animal Science, The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel.
Dev Dyn. 2001 Jan;220(1):60-73. doi: 10.1002/1097-0177(2000)9999:9999<::AID-DVDY1089>3.0.CO;2-X.
A unique pattern of LacZ expression was found in a transgenic mouse line, likely due to regulatory elements at the site of integration. Two new genes flanking the transgene were identified. At early stages of development, the transgene is transiently expressed in ventro-lateral demomyotomal cells migrating from the somites into the limb buds. At late developmental stages and in the adult, lacZ staining marks vascular smooth muscle cells throughout the vascular bed, with the exception of the major elastic arteries, and in pericytes. No expression was detected in skeletal and smooth muscles. Different patterns of expression in vascular smooth muscles was observed at distinct levels of the vascular tree, in arteries as well as in veins. Vessel injury, resulting in stimulation of smooth muscle cells proliferation and migration, is associated with transgene down-regulation. After the formation of neointima thickening, it is reactivated. This transgenic insertion may therefore be used as a useful marker to identify novel physiological cues or genetic elements involved in the regulation of the vascular smooth muscle phenotype(s). It may also provide an experimental tool for studying vasculature and the involvement of pericytes in regulating microvascular homeostasis.
在一个转基因小鼠品系中发现了一种独特的LacZ表达模式，这可能是由于整合位点的调控元件所致。鉴定出了转基因两侧的两个新基因。在发育早期，转基因在从体节迁移到肢芽的腹外侧肌节细胞中短暂表达。在发育后期和成年期，lacZ染色标记了整个血管床中的血管平滑肌细胞，但主要弹性动脉除外，并且在周细胞中也有标记。在骨骼肌和平滑肌中未检测到表达。在血管树的不同水平，在动脉和静脉中都观察到了血管平滑肌中不同的表达模式。血管损伤导致平滑肌细胞增殖和迁移受到刺激，这与转基因下调有关。在新内膜增厚形成后，它会重新激活。因此，这种转基因插入可作为一种有用的标记，用于识别参与调节血管平滑肌表型的新的生理信号或遗传元件。它还可能为研究脉管系统以及周细胞在调节微血管稳态中的作用提供一种实验工具。
