Targeted disruption of the MHC class II Aa gene in C57BL/6 mice

The MHC class II gene Aa was disrupted by targeted mutation in embryonic stem (ES) cells derived from C57BL/6 mice to prevent expression of MHC class II molecules. Contrary to previous reports, the effect of the null-mutation on T cell development was investigated in C57BL/6 mice, which provide a defined genetic background. The complete lack of cell surface expression of MHC class II molecules in B6-Aa0/Aa0 homozygous mutant mice was directly demonstrated by cytofiuorometric analysis using anti-Ab and anti-la specific mAbs. Development of CD4+CD8− T cells in the thymus was largely absent except for a small population of thymocytes expressing high levels of CD4 together with low amounts of CD8. The majority of these cells express the TCR at high density. Although mature CD4+CD8− T cells were undetectable in the thymus, some T cells with a CD4+CD8−TCRhigh phenotype were found in lymph nodes and spleen. Peripheral T cells from themutant mice can be polyclonally activated in vitro with the mitogen concanavalin A. However, they could not be stimulated with staphylococcal enterotoxin B in autologous lymphocyte reactions, thereby demonstrating the absence of MHC class II expression in these mice. Peripheral B cells in B6-Aa0/Aa0 mutants were functional and responded to the T cell independent antigen levan by the production of antigenspecific IgM antibodies similar to wild-type cells. The B6-Aa0/Aa0 mutant mice described in this study represent an important tool to investigate the involvement of MHC class II molecules in lymphocyte maturation and the immune respons

The phosphatidylserine receptor has essential functions during embryogenesis but not in apoptotic cell removal

BACKGROUND: Phagocytosis of apoptotic cells is fundamental to animal development, immune function and cellular homeostasis. The phosphatidylserine receptor (Ptdsr) on phagocytes has been implicated in the recognition and engulfment of apoptotic cells and in anti-inflammatory signaling. To determine the biological function of the phosphatidylserine receptor in vivo, we inactivated the Ptdsr gene in the mouse. RESULTS: Ablation of Ptdsr function in mice causes perinatal lethality, growth retardation and a delay in terminal differentiation of the kidney, intestine, liver and lungs during embryogenesis. Moreover, eye development can be severely disturbed, ranging from defects in retinal differentiation to complete unilateral or bilateral absence of eyes. Ptdsr (-/-) mice with anophthalmia develop novel lesions, with induction of ectopic retinal-pigmented epithelium in nasal cavities. A comprehensive investigation of apoptotic cell clearance in vivo and in vitro demonstrated that engulfment of apoptotic cells was normal in Ptdsr knockout mice, but Ptdsr-deficient macrophages were impaired in pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine signaling after stimulation with apoptotic cells or with lipopolysaccharide. CONCLUSION: Ptdsr is essential for the development and differentiation of multiple organs during embryogenesis but not for apoptotic cell removal. Ptdsr may thus have a novel, unexpected developmental function as an important differentiation-promoting gene. Moreover, Ptdsr is not required for apoptotic cell clearance by macrophages but seems to be necessary for the regulation of macrophage cytokine responses. These results clearly contradict the current view that the phosphatidylserine receptor primarily functions in apoptotic cell clearance

Analysis of a wild mouse promoter variant reveals a novel role for FcγRIIb in the control of the germinal center and autoimmunity.

Genetic variants of the inhibitory Fc receptor FcγRIIb have been associated with systemic lupus erythematosus in humans and mice. The mechanism by which Fcgr2b variants contribute to the development of autoimmunity is unknown and was investigated by knocking in the most commonly conserved wild mouse Fcgr2b promoter haplotype, also associated with autoimmune-prone mouse strains, into the C57BL/6 background. We found that in the absence of an AP-1-binding site in its promoter, FcγRIIb failed to be up-regulated on activated and germinal center (GC) B cells. This resulted in enhanced GC responses, increased affinity maturation, and autoantibody production. Accordingly, in the absence of FcγRIIb activation-induced up-regulation, mice developed more severe collagen-induced arthritis and spontaneous glomerular immune complex deposition. Our data highlight how natural variation in Fcgr2b drives the development of autoimmune disease. They also show how the study of such variants using a knockin approach can provide insight into immune mechanisms not possible using conventional genetic manipulation, in this case demonstrating an unexpected critical role for the activation-induced up-regulation of FcγRIIb in controlling affinity maturation, autoantibody production, and autoimmunity

The testicular soma of Tsc22d3 knockout mice supports spermatogenesis and germline transmission from spermatogonial stem cell lines upon transplantation

Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) are adult stem cells that are slowly cycling and self-renewing. The pool of SSCs generates very large numbers of male gametes throughout the life of the individual. SSCs can be cultured in vitro for long periods of time, and established SSC lines can be manipulated genetically. Upon transplantation into the testes of infertile mice, long-term cultured mouse SSCs can differentiate into fertile spermatozoa, which can give rise to live offspring. Here, we show that the testicular soma of mice with a conditional knockout (conKO) in the X-linked gene Tsc22d3 supports spermatogenesis and germline transmission from cultured mouse SSCs upon transplantation. Infertile males were produced by crossing homozygous Tsc22d3 floxed females with homozygous ROSA26-Cre males. We obtained 96 live offspring from six long-term cultured SSC lines with the aid of intracytoplasmic sperm injection. We advocate the further optimization of Tsc22d3-conKO males as recipients for testis transplantation of SSC lines

Impaired Cardiac Contractility Response to Hemodynamic Stress in S100A1-Deficient Mice

Ca(2+) signaling plays a central role in cardiac contractility and adaptation to increased hemodynamic demand. We have generated mice with a targeted deletion of the S100A1 gene coding for the major cardiac isoform of the large multigenic S100 family of EF hand Ca(2+)-binding proteins. S100A1(−/−) mice have normal cardiac function under baseline conditions but have significantly reduced contraction rate and relaxation rate responses to β-adrenergic stimulation that are associated with a reduced Ca(2+) sensitivity. In S100A1(−/−) mice, basal left-ventricular contractility deteriorated following 3-week pressure overload by thoracic aorta constriction despite a normal adaptive hypertrophy. Surprisingly, heterozygotes also had an impaired response to acute β-adrenergic stimulation but maintained normal contractility in response to chronic pressure overload that coincided with S100A1 upregulation to wild-type levels. In contrast to other genetic models with impaired cardiac contractility, loss of S100A1 did not lead to cardiac hypertrophy or dilation in aged mice. The data demonstrate that high S100A1 protein levels are essential for the cardiac reserve and adaptation to acute and chronic hemodynamic stress in vivo