Green fluorescent protein-transgenic mice: immune functions and their application to studies of lymphocyte development

Green fluorescent protein (GFP) transgenic (GFP(+)) mice express GFP in mos t tissues except erythrocytes and hair. Immune responses of GFP(+) mouse an d their application to studies of lymphocyte development were investigated. Flow cytometric analyses revealed that differentiation patterns of lymphoc ytes from GFP(+) mice are equivalent to those from parental C57BL/6 mice. T here was no difference in mature T-cell proliferative ability in response t o allogeneic stimulator cells or anti-CD3 epsilon stimulation between GFP() and C57BL/6 mice. Furthermore, the anti-OVA antibody response of GFP(+) m ice was also the same as that of C57BL/6 mice. Taken together, these result s show no immunological differences between GFP(+) and C57BL/6 mice. Bone m arrow transplantation and in vitro thymus reconstitution experiments were p erformed in an attempt to apply the GFP(+) mice to the analysis of lymphocy te development. When bone marrow cells from GFP(+) mice were transplanted, T and B lymphocytes containing GFP developed normally in scid recipients. N ext we examined intrathymic T-cell development by hanging drop culture meth ods. GFP(+) and CD4(+)8(+) immature T-cells developed normally from bone ma rrow cells in the reconstituted thymus. The experimental system using hemat opoietic cells from GFP(+) mice is a powerful tool for visualizing lymphocy te development. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.