Epithelial-specific Cre/lox recombination in the developing kidney and genitourinary tract

Area of Science:

• Developmental Biology
• Genetics
• Nephrology

Background:

• Ksp-cadherin is a kidney and genitourinary (GU) tract-specific cadherin involved in cell adhesion.
• A 5' flanking region of the Ksp-cadherin gene directs its expression pattern in the developing kidney and GU tract.
• Understanding tissue-specific gene expression is crucial for developmental and disease studies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To generate and characterize Ksp1.3/Cre transgenic mice for studying Ksp-cadherin expression patterns.
• To validate the utility of Ksp1.3/Cre mice for Cre/lox-mediated recombination in kidney and GU tissues.
• To establish a tool for cell lineage tracing and gene targeting in the kidney and GU tract.

Main Methods:

• Generation of Ksp1.3/Cre transgenic mice using a 1329 bp Ksp-cadherin 5' flanking region linked to Cre recombinase.
• Analysis of Cre recombinase expression in adult Ksp1.3/Cre mice and transgenic embryos.
• Crossing Ksp1.3/Cre mice with a Cre-reporter (lacZ) mouse line to assess recombination activity.

Main Results:

• Ksp1.3/Cre transgenic mice exhibited Cre recombinase expression in adult renal tubules, particularly collecting ducts and Henle's loops.
• Transgenic embryos showed Cre expression in the developing ureteric bud, renal tubules, and sex ducts.
• Bitransgenic progeny (Ksp1.3/Cre crossed with lacZ reporter) displayed lacZ expression exclusively in renal tubules, mesonephric tubules, ureteric bud, developing ureter, and Wolffian duct.

Conclusions:

• Ksp1.3/Cre transgenic mice demonstrate exclusive Cre recombinase expression in the kidney and developing GU tract.
• These mice effectively mediate epithelial-specific Cre/lox recombination in the targeted tissues.
• Ksp1.3/Cre mice are valuable tools for kidney-specific cell lineage studies and gene targeting.