The contribution of the Tie2+ lineage to primitive and definitive hematopoietic cells.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

9-1-2010

Institution/Department

Center for Molecular Medicine, Maine Medical Center Research Institute

Journal Title

Genesis (New York, N.Y. : 2000)

MeSH Headings

Animals, Bacterial Proteins, Bone Marrow Cells, DNA Primers, Flow Cytometry, Hematopoietic Stem Cells, Integrases, Leukocyte Common Antigens, Luminescent Proteins, Mice, Mice, Transgenic, Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases, Receptor, TIE-2, Recombination, Genetic, Spleen

Abstract

The regulatory elements of the Tie2/Tek promoter are commonly used in mouse models to direct transgene expression to endothelial cells. Tunica intima endothelial kinase 2 (Tie2) is also expressed in hematopoietic cells, although this has not been fully characterized. We determine the lineages of adult hematopoietic cells derived from Tie2-expressing populations using Tie2-Cre;Rosa26R-EYFP mice. In Tie2-Cre;Rosa26R-EYFP mice, analysis of bone marrow cells showed Cre-mediated recombination in 85% of the population. In adult bone marrow and spleen, we analyzed subclasses of early hematopoietic progenitors, T cells, monocytes, granulocytes, and B cells. We found that ∼ 84% of each lineage was EYFP(+), and nearly all cells that come from Tie2-expressing lineages are CD45(+), confirming widespread contribution to definitive hematopoietic cells. In addition, more than 82% of blood cells within the embryonic yolk sac were of Tie2(+) origin. Our findings of high levels of Tie2-Cre recombination in the hematopoietic lineage have implications for the use of the Tie2-Cre mouse as a lineage-restricted driver strain.

ISSN

1526-968X

First Page

563

Last Page

567

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