Marco Galvan, Mina Fujitani, Samuel R Heaselgrave, Shreya Thomas, Bandy Chen, Jenny J Lee, Steven C Wyler, Joel K Elmquist, Teppei Fujikawa
{"title":"Development and characterization of an Sf-1-Flp mouse model.","authors":"Marco Galvan, Mina Fujitani, Samuel R Heaselgrave, Shreya Thomas, Bandy Chen, Jenny J Lee, Steven C Wyler, Joel K Elmquist, Teppei Fujikawa","doi":"10.1172/jci.insight.190105","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The use of genetically engineered tools, including combinations of Cre-LoxP and Flp-FRT systems, enable the interrogation of complex biology. Steroidogenic factor-1 (SF-1) is expressed in the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus (VMH). Development of genetic tools, such as mice expressing Flp recombinase (Flp) in SF-1 neurons (Sf-1-Flp), will be useful for future studies that unravel the complex physiology regulated by the VMH. Here, we developed and characterized Sf-1-Flp mice and demonstrated its utility. Flp sequence was inserted into Sf-1 locus with P2A. This insertion did not affect Sf-1 mRNA expression levels and Sf-1-Flp mice do not have any visible phenotypes. They are fertile and metabolically comparable to wild-type littermate mice. Optogenetic stimulation using adeno-associated virus (AAV)-bearing Flp-dependent channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2) increased blood glucose and skeletal muscle PGC-1α in Sf-1-Flp mice. This was similar to SF-1 neuronal activation using Sf-1-BAC-Cre and AAV-bearing Cre-dependent ChR2. Finally, we generated Sf-1-Flp mice that lack β2-adrenergic receptors (Adrβ2) only in skeletal muscle with a combination of Cre/LoxP technology (Sf-1-Flp::SKM∆Adrβ2). Optogenetic stimulation of SF-1 neurons failed to increase skeletal muscle PGC-1α in Sf-1-Flp::SKM∆Adrβ2 mice, suggesting that Adrβ2 in skeletal muscle is required for augmented skeletal muscle PGC-1α by SF-1 neuronal activation. Our data demonstrate that Sf-1-Flp mice are useful for interrogating complex physiology.</p>","PeriodicalId":14722,"journal":{"name":"JCI insight","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.3000,"publicationDate":"2025-03-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"JCI insight","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1172/jci.insight.190105","RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"MEDICINE, RESEARCH & EXPERIMENTAL","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
The use of genetically engineered tools, including combinations of Cre-LoxP and Flp-FRT systems, enable the interrogation of complex biology. Steroidogenic factor-1 (SF-1) is expressed in the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus (VMH). Development of genetic tools, such as mice expressing Flp recombinase (Flp) in SF-1 neurons (Sf-1-Flp), will be useful for future studies that unravel the complex physiology regulated by the VMH. Here, we developed and characterized Sf-1-Flp mice and demonstrated its utility. Flp sequence was inserted into Sf-1 locus with P2A. This insertion did not affect Sf-1 mRNA expression levels and Sf-1-Flp mice do not have any visible phenotypes. They are fertile and metabolically comparable to wild-type littermate mice. Optogenetic stimulation using adeno-associated virus (AAV)-bearing Flp-dependent channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2) increased blood glucose and skeletal muscle PGC-1α in Sf-1-Flp mice. This was similar to SF-1 neuronal activation using Sf-1-BAC-Cre and AAV-bearing Cre-dependent ChR2. Finally, we generated Sf-1-Flp mice that lack β2-adrenergic receptors (Adrβ2) only in skeletal muscle with a combination of Cre/LoxP technology (Sf-1-Flp::SKM∆Adrβ2). Optogenetic stimulation of SF-1 neurons failed to increase skeletal muscle PGC-1α in Sf-1-Flp::SKM∆Adrβ2 mice, suggesting that Adrβ2 in skeletal muscle is required for augmented skeletal muscle PGC-1α by SF-1 neuronal activation. Our data demonstrate that Sf-1-Flp mice are useful for interrogating complex physiology.
期刊介绍:
JCI Insight is a Gold Open Access journal with a 2022 Impact Factor of 8.0. It publishes high-quality studies in various biomedical specialties, such as autoimmunity, gastroenterology, immunology, metabolism, nephrology, neuroscience, oncology, pulmonology, and vascular biology. The journal focuses on clinically relevant basic and translational research that contributes to the understanding of disease biology and treatment. JCI Insight is self-published by the American Society for Clinical Investigation (ASCI), a nonprofit honor organization of physician-scientists founded in 1908, and it helps fulfill the ASCI's mission to advance medical science through the publication of clinically relevant research reports.