Membrane cofactor protein (MCP; CD46) expression in transgenic mice

Citation
C. Kemper et al., Membrane cofactor protein (MCP; CD46) expression in transgenic mice, CLIN EXP IM, 124(2), 2001, pp. 180-189
Citations number
44
Categorie Soggetti
Immunology
Journal title
CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL IMMUNOLOGY
ISSN journal
00099104 → ACNP
Volume
124
Issue
2
Year of publication
2001
Pages
180 - 189
Database
ISI
SICI code
0009-9104(200105)124:2<180:MCP(CE>2.0.ZU;2-Z
Abstract
Human membrane cofactor protein (MCP; CD46) is a widely distributed complem ent regulator. In the mouse, expression of MCP is largely restricted to the testis while a related, widely expressed protein (Crry) appears to perform MCP's (CD46) regulatory activity. We have developed two mouse strains tran sgenic for human MCP (CD46) utilizing an similar to 400 kb YAC clone carryi ng the complete gene. A third mouse strain was generated using an overlappi ng YAC clone isolated from a second library. The expression of human MCP (C D46) in these mouse strains was characterized by immunohistochemistry, FACS , Western blotting and RT-PCR. No differences were detected in the isoform pattern or distribution among the three strains, although the expression le vel varied according to how many copies of the gene were integrated. The ex pression profile closely mimicked that observed in humans, including the sa me pattern of isoform expression as the donor. In addition, tissue-specific isoform expression in the kidney, salivary gland and brain paralleled that observed in man. The transgenic mice expressed low levels of MCP (CD46) on their E, in contrast to humans but in line with most other primates. These mice should be a useful tool to analyse tissue-specific expression, to est ablish animal models of infections and to characterize the role of MCP (CD4 6) in reproduction.