Interferon-λ Receptor Expression: Novel Reporter Mouse Reveals Within-and Cross-Tissue Heterogeneity
Linden J, Schnepf D, Wischnewski M, Ye L, Gawron J, Ohnemus A, Friedrich C, Gasteiger G, Staeheli P (2020)
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2020
Journal
Book Volume: 40
Pages Range: 292-300
Journal Issue: 6
Abstract
Interferon-λ (IFN-λ) plays an important role in mucosal immunity, but reliable information regarding the expression of the IFN-λ receptor in individual cells is still missing. One reason for this knowledge gap is the lack of antibodies that specifically recognize the unique IFNLR1 subunit of the dimeric IFN-λ receptor complex. In this study, we investigated whether a reporter mouse carrying a bacterial β-galactosidase gene inserted into the Ifnlr1 locus could be used to visualize IFN-λ receptor-expressing cells in whole organs. First we confirmed that insertion of the reporter cassette inactivated the Ifnlr1 gene, and that gene function could be restored by removing the β-galactosidase insert by site-specific recombination. When whole tissues were analyzed, prominent β-galactosidase activity was confined to the intestinal tract of reporter mice. However, only the snout expressed β-galactosidase at levels high enough for reliable detection in whole tissue extracts. Interestingly, individual epithelial cells in the upper airways expressed β-galactosidase activity to variable degrees as determined by flow cytometry and histology, suggesting a remarkable heterogeneity in IFNLR1 expression levels. Taken together, our results demonstrate a surprisingly strong within-and cross-tissue heterogeneity of IFNLR1 expression that may have physiological implications.
Involved external institutions
Germany (DE)How to cite
APA:
Linden, J., Schnepf, D., Wischnewski, M., Ye, L., Gawron, J., Ohnemus, A.,... Staeheli, P. (2020). Interferon-λ Receptor Expression: Novel Reporter Mouse Reveals Within-and Cross-Tissue Heterogeneity. Journal of Interferon and Cytokine Research, 40(6), 292-300. https://dx.doi.org/10.1089/jir.2019.0265
MLA:
Linden, Julian, et al. "Interferon-λ Receptor Expression: Novel Reporter Mouse Reveals Within-and Cross-Tissue Heterogeneity." Journal of Interferon and Cytokine Research 40.6 (2020): 292-300.
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