Simultaneous expression of different transgenes in neurons and glia by combining in utero electroporation with the Tol2 transposon-mediated gene transfer system

Genes Cells. 2010 May;15(5):501-12. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2443.2010.01397.x. Epub 2010 Apr 7.

Abstract

In utero electroporation is widely used to study neuronal development and function by introducing plasmid DNA into neural progenitors during embryogenesis. This is an effective and convenient method of introducing plasmid DNA into neural precursors and is suitable for manipulating gene expression in cells of the CNS. However, the applicability of this technique is comparatively limited to neuronal research, as the plasmid DNA introduced into neural progenitors during embryogenesis is diluted by cell proliferation and is not stably maintained in glial cells generated around and after birth. To overcome this limitation, we applied the Tol2 transposon system, which integrates a transgene into the genome of the host cell, to in utero electroporation. With this system, we confirmed that the transgene was effectively maintained in the progeny of embryonic neural precursors, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. Using the glial promoters GFAP and S100beta, targeted and stable expressions of transgenes in glia were obtained, which enabled the expression of different transgenes simultaneously in neurons and glia. Glia-targeted expression of the transgene that causes neuronal migration defect was achieved without the defect. Thus, use of the Tol2 transposon system in combination with in utero electroporation is a powerful method for studying glia-neuron interactions in vivo.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • DNA Transposable Elements*
  • Electroporation / methods*
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental*
  • Gene Transfer Techniques*
  • Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / genetics
  • Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Nerve Growth Factors / genetics
  • Nerve Growth Factors / metabolism
  • Neuroglia / cytology
  • Neuroglia / physiology*
  • Neurons / cytology
  • Neurons / physiology*
  • Pregnancy
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
  • S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit
  • S100 Proteins / genetics
  • S100 Proteins / metabolism
  • Stem Cells / cytology
  • Stem Cells / physiology
  • Transgenes*
  • Transposases / metabolism

Substances

  • DNA Transposable Elements
  • Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein
  • Nerve Growth Factors
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit
  • S100 Proteins
  • Transposases