GFP expression in the mammary gland for imaging of mammary tumor cells in transgenic mice.

Abstract

To examine the behavior of tumor cells in tumors developing directly from mammary tissue in transgenic models, we have evaluated transgenic mice expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP). Using the mouse mammary virus promoter (MMTV) to directly drive expression of GFP, we find low levels of fluorescence in the mammary and salivary glands of transgenic animals. Using MMTV-Cre or WAP-Cre in combination with the Cre-activatable CAG-CAT-EGFP construct, we find stronger expression of GFP that is still tissue specific. These animals provide a range of expression of GFP that is suitable for analysis of transgenic mammary tumors and metastases in vivo at the single cell level of resolution.

• Authors: Fayyaz Ahmed, Jeffrey Wyckoff, Elaine Y Lin, Weigang Wang, Yarong Wang, Lothar Hennighausen, Jun-ichi Miyazaki, Joan Jones, Jeffrey W Pollard, John S Condeelis, Jeffrey E Segall
• Journal: Cancer research (Cancer Res) Vol. 62 Issue 24 Pg. 7166-9 (Dec 15 2002) ISSN: 0008-5472 [Print] United States
• PMID: 12499251 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S., Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Luminescent Proteins
• Green Fluorescent Proteins

Topics

• Animals
• Green Fluorescent Proteins
• Luminescent Proteins (biosynthesis, genetics)
• Mammary Glands, Animal (metabolism)
• Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental (genetics, metabolism, pathology)
• Mammary Tumor Virus, Mouse (genetics)
• Mice
• Mice, Transgenic
• Microscopy, Fluorescence, Multiphoton (methods)
• Promoter Regions, Genetic
• Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
• Salivary Glands (metabolism)