Development and characterization of Thy*IκBα-SI transgenic mice

We developed and characterized a new transgenic model where NF-κB activity is inhibited only in mature neurons. Transgenic mouse strain Thy*IκBα-SI was created using trans-dominant super inhibitor NF-κB (IκBα-SI), which is a multimutant form of IκBα inhibitory protein cloned into specific neutral Thy-1.2 cassette. Detailed molecular analysis showed that the transgene and its product (IκBα-SI protein) are expressed in the nervous system of transgenic mice. In situ hybridization showed that Thy*IκBα-SI in the nervous system is expressed exclusively in neurons. The developed model provides wide opportunities for studying functional role of NF-κB in mature neurons in the central and peripheral nervous system in vivo.