Tissue-selective mast cell reconstitution and differential lung gene expression in mast cell-deficient Kit(W-sh)/Kit(W-sh) sash mice.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Mast cell-deficient Kit(W)/Kit(W-v) mice are an important resource for studying mast cell functions in vivo. However, because they are compound heterozygotes in a mixed genetic background and are infertile, they cannot be crossed easily with other mice.

Objective

To overcome this limitation, we explored the use of Kit(W-sh)/Kit(W-sh) mice for studying mast cell biology in vivo.

Results

These mice are in a C57BL/6 background, are fertile and can be bred directly with other genetically modified mice. Ten-week-old Kit(W-sh)/Kit(W-sh) are profoundly mast cell-deficient. No mast cells are detected in any major organ, including the lung. Gene microarrays detect differential expression of just seven of 16,463 genes in lungs of Kit(W-sh)/Kit(W-sh) mice compared wit

SUBMITTER: Wolters PJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2271075 | biostudies-literature | 2005 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature