Generation of a pancreatic cancer model using a Pdx1-Flp recombinase knock-in allele

PLoS One. 2017 Sep 21;12(9):e0184984. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0184984. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

The contribution of the tumor microenvironment to the development of pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is unclear. The LSL-KrasG12D/+;LSL-p53R172H/+;Pdx-1-Cre (KPC) tumor model, which is widely utilized to faithfully recapitulate human pancreatic cancer, depends on Cre-mediated recombination in the epithelial lineage to drive tumorigenesis. Therefore, specific Cre-loxP recombination in stromal cells cannot be applied in this model, limiting the in vivo investigation of stromal genetics in tumor initiation and progression. To address this issue, we generated a new Pdx1FlpO knock-in mouse line, which represents the first mouse model to physiologically express FlpO recombinase in pancreatic epithelial cells. This mouse specifically recombines Frt loci in pancreatic epithelial cells, including acinar, ductal, and islet cells. When combined with the Frt-STOP-Frt KrasG12D and p53Frt mouse lines, simultaneous Pdx1FlpO activation of mutant Kras and deletion of p53 results in the spectrum of pathologic changes seen in PDAC, including PanIN lesions and ductal carcinoma. Combination of this KPF mouse model with any stroma-specific Cre can be used to conditionally modify target genes of interest. This will provide an excellent in vivo tool to study the roles of genes in different cell types and multiple cell compartments within the pancreatic tumor microenvironment.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / genetics
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / metabolism
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / pathology*
  • DNA Nucleotidyltransferases / genetics
  • DNA Nucleotidyltransferases / metabolism*
  • Disease Models, Animal*
  • Disease Progression
  • Female
  • Homeodomain Proteins / physiology*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / genetics
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras) / genetics
  • Signal Transduction
  • Trans-Activators / physiology*
  • Tumor Microenvironment
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / genetics

Substances

  • Homeodomain Proteins
  • Trans-Activators
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
  • pancreatic and duodenal homeobox 1 protein
  • DNA Nucleotidyltransferases
  • FLP recombinase
  • Hras protein, mouse
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)