Open AccessGeneration and Characterization of Mice Expressing a Conditional Allele of the Interleukin-1 Receptor Type 1
Author(s) -
Matthew J. Robson,
Chunfang Zhu,
Meagan A. Quinlan,
David A. Botschner,
Nicole L. Baganz,
Kathryn M. Lindler,
Jason G. Thome,
William A. Hewlett,
Randy D. Blakely
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0150068
Subject(s) - interleukin 1 receptor, type i , cre recombinase , cre lox recombination , interleukin 1 receptor , biology , interleukin 1 receptor, type ii , receptor , locus (genetics) , gene , microbiology and biotechnology , cytokine , genetics , interleukin , interleukin 21 receptor , genetically modified mouse , transgene , interleukin 5
The cytokines IL-1α and IL-1β exert powerful pro-inflammatory actions throughout the body, mediated primarily by the intracellular signaling capacity of the interleukin-1 receptor (IL-1R1). Although Il1r1 knockout mice have been informative with respect to a requirement for IL-1R1 signaling in inflammatory events, the constitutive nature of gene elimination has limited their utility in the assessment of temporal and spatial patterns of cytokine action. To pursue such questions, we have generated C57Bl/6J mice containing a floxed Il1r1 gene ( Il1r1 loxP/loxP ), with loxP sites positioned to flank exons 3 and 4 and thereby the ability to spatially and temporally eliminate Il1r1 expression and signaling. We found that Il1r1 loxP/loxP mice breed normally and exhibit no gross physical or behavioral phenotypes. Moreover, Il1r1 loxP/loxP mice exhibit normal IL-1R1 receptor expression in brain and spleen, as well as normal IL-1R1-dependent increases in serum IL-6 following IL-1α injections. Breeding of Il1r1 loxP/loxP mice to animals expressing a cytomegalovirus (CMV)-driven Cre recombinase afforded efficient excision at the Il1r1 locus. The Il1r1 loxP/loxP line should be a valuable tool for the assessment of contributions made by IL-1R1 signaling in diverse cell types across development.