Transgenic mice expressing surface markers for IFN-γ and IL-4 producing cells

• Published in: Molecular immunology 2000-04, Vol.37 (6), p.281-293
• Main Authors: Hsieh, Shie-Liang, Chen, Nien-Jung, Tarbell, Kristin, Liao, Nan-Shih, Lai, Yein-Gei, Lee, Kun-Hsiung, Lee, Kin-Mu, Wu, Shinn-Chih, Sytwu, Huey-Kang, Han, Shou-Hwa, McDevitt, Hugh
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 3T3 Cells; Animals; Base Sequence; DNA Primers - genetics; g-Interferon; Humans; Interferon-gamma - biosynthesis; Interferon-gamma - genetics; Interleukin-4 - biosynthesis; Interleukin-4 - genetics; Kinetics; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Mice, Inbred ICR; Mice, Transgenic; Promoter Regions, Genetic; T H1/T H2; T lymphocytes; Th1 Cells - immunology; Th2 Cells - immunology; Thy-1 antigen; Thy-1 Antigens - genetics; Thy-1.1 antigen; Transfection; Transgenic
• ISSN: 0161-5890; 1872-9142
• DOI: 10.1016/S0161-5890(00)00052-3

The detection of T H1-type and T H2-type cells directly in situ would be of great value in the study of T H development and function in vivo. Transgenic mice expressing human Thy1 and mouse Thy1.1 under the control of the murine IFN-γ and IL-4 promoters, respectively, have been generated. The hThy1 + cells represent (with some temporal lag) most of the IFN-γ-producing CD4 + T-cells, while the mThy1.1 + cells represent only a percentage of IL-4 secreting cells. This may be due to mono-allelic expression of the IFN-γ and IL-4 genes. Since permeabilization is not required for the detection of the transgenic surface markers, these transgenic mice can facilitate the detection of T H1-type and T H2-type cells by flow cytometry with surface immunofluorescent staining. These surface markers should permit isolation of viable cells according to their T H type for adoptive transfer experiments, and may serve as a model system for tracing the development of T H1 and T H2-type cells in vivo.