Establishment and characterisation of human carcinoembryonic antigen transgenic mice
T Hasegawa1, K Isobe, Y Tsuchiya
1First Department of Internal Medicine, Nagoya University School of Medicine, Japan.
Abstract:
We have produced human CEA transgenic mice which were found to express CEA mRNA in all tissues. By immunoblot analysis using anti-CEA polyclonal antibody, we also detected CEA protein in all tissues. However, the molecular size of CEA in the brain was different from that in other tissues, although the mRNA size was same and no deletion nor rearrangement was detected at the DNA level. Immunohistochemical analysis of the lung and the colon showed that the expression sites were the bronchial epithelial cells of the lung and the columnar epithelial cells of the colon. Interestingly, the expression of CEA protein in the transgenic mice was polarised to the luminal side of epithelial cells similar to the normal CEA expression in human tissues. We also detected cell surface expression of human CEA on thymocytes and spleen cells and CEA expression was greatly reduced by the phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC) treatment.
Insights
Human CEA transgenic mice express CEA mRNA and protein in all tissues. Brain tissue showed a different CEA protein size, indicating unique post-translational modifications in the central nervous system.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Immunology
- Genetics
Background:
- Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is a cell surface glycoprotein.
- Understanding CEA expression and function is crucial for cancer research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression pattern and characteristics of human CEA in transgenic mice.
- To explore potential tissue-specific post-translational modifications of CEA.
Main Methods:
- Generation of human CEA transgenic mice.
- Analysis of CEA mRNA and protein expression via immunoblot and immunohistochemistry.
- Investigation of DNA integrity.
- Assessment of CEA localization and cell surface expression.
- Treatment with phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC).
Main Results:
- Human CEA mRNA and protein were detected in all tissues of transgenic mice.
- A distinct molecular size of CEA protein was observed in the brain compared to other tissues.
- CEA expression was localized to the luminal side of bronchial and colonic epithelial cells.
- Cell surface expression of CEA was found on thymocytes and spleen cells, sensitive to PI-PLC treatment.
Conclusions:
- Transgenic mice effectively express human CEA across various tissues.
- Tissue-specific post-translational modifications of CEA occur, particularly in the brain.
- CEA exhibits polarized expression and cell surface localization, consistent with its known functions.
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