RafTR Mouse

The Schwann cell RafTR mice may also provide an important insight into the development and treatment of Neurofibromatosis type 1, a common inherited disorder in which patients are predisposed to develop tumours of the peripheral nervous system (Neurofibromas).

Contributors

Inventor Institute
Alison Lloyd University College London
Cat. #: 151557
Research Fields: Cancer;Cell signaling and signal transduction;Genetics;Neurobiology
Target: Raf Kinase/Estrogen Receptor fusion protein (RafTR)
disease: Nerve Injury
Zygosity: Heterozygous
Phenotype: Normal
Primary citation: Napoli et al. 2012. Neuron. 23;73(4):729-42. PMID: 22365547
Product description: Peripheral nerves have the remarkable ability to regenerate following trauma, after which, a coordinated period of Schwann cell demyelination and recruitment of the inflammatory response form key steps in clearing the path for axonal regrowth to take place. During the course of nerve regeneration these same processes need to be switched off and reversed in order to allow the nerve to remyelinate and regain normal function. Following Tmx treatment/withdrawal, the Schwann cell RafTR mice display striking similarities to mice in which peripheral nerves have been cut or crushed – both in the response to, and recovery from, nerve damage. Furthermore, because of the cell specific nature of the Raf signal and the lack of damage to axons observed in this model, the Schwann cell RafTR mice will serve as a key to further understanding the central role of Schwann cells in controlling and coordinating the inflammatory response – thought to be essential for the rapid clearance of myelin that precedes nerve regeneration. In many diseases that affect the peripheral nervous system, including inherited demyelinating disorders and peripheral neuropathies induced by pathogens such as Leprosy, both demyelination and inflammation form central tenants of the disease pathologies and thus are important targets for drug therapy. Using the Schwann cell RafTR mouse model a demyelinating, inflammatory state can be induced and maintained by prolonged Tmx treatment. Furthermore, this pseudo-disease-like phenotype can be titered by regulating the dosage of Tmx given to the animals. Thus, the Schwann cell RafTR mice may serve as a model for targeting the inflammatory symptoms that accompany and exacerbate demyelinating diseases.The Schwann cell RafTR mice may also provide an important insight into the development and treatment of Neurofibromatosis type 1, a common inherited disorder in which patients are predisposed to develop tumours of the peripheral nervous system (Neurofibromas). These tumours are initiated by Schwann cells in which the small GTPase Ras becomes basally more active. Raf is one of the key downstream effectors of Ras and it is therefore highly likely that Raf kinase activation in the Schwann cell RafTR mouse mimics some of the behavioural changes that are observed within the tumour initiating cells at the earliest stages of tumourigenesis. Within neurofibromas Schwann cells are found in an undifferentiated state with a variety of non-neoplastic cells including inflammatory cells that help to create a pro-proliferative microenvironment which closely resembles that of the injured nerve. Therefore the Schwann cell RafTR mouse model may be useful in helping to dissect the contribution of this pathway in both the initiation and maintenance of the tumour microenvironment. A gene specific promoter The transgenic construct, p0Cx32, restricts transgene expression to the myelinated Schwann cells of the peripheral nervous system. Schwann cell RafTR mice develop normally and are indistinguishable from control animals due to the silent nature of the expressed transgene. However, RafTR protein can be readily and specifically detected in the peripheral nervous system and Schwann cell Raf-kinase signalling can be rapidly induced following administration of the oestrogen analogue tamoxifen (Tmx). Activation of the RafTR protein in Schwann cells triggers a widespread programme of demyelination within the peripheral nervous system that results in severe ataxia and impaired motor function. Cellular changes within the nerves include Schwann cell dedifferentiation and proliferation together with increased permeability of the blood nerve barrier and recruitment of inflammatory cells such as macrophages. Despite this extensive tissue remodelling and loss of nerve function, axonal fibres remain structurally unaffected. Prolonged treatment with Tmx maintains the demyelinated/inflammatory state and thus the ataxic phenotype, however, the mice are able to make a full behavioural recovery following Tmx withdrawal due to remyelination of nerve fibres by Schwann cells (in which Raf is no longer activated).
Conditional: Yes
Conditional description: Tamoxifen-inducible of Raf-ER fusion protein
Genetic background: The RafTR coding sequence was amplified by PCR from the vector pLXSN3-RAFTR using the forward; 5'-CATTCCATGGAGTACTCACAGCCG-3' and reverse primers; 5'-CGATGACGTCAGATCGTGTTGGGGAAGC-3' respectively. The resulting 2.2kb fragment was cloned directly into the AatII site of P0Cx32-Nco-Myc-Aat following removal of the Myc-Tag ATG in the NcoI site. The vector backbone of P0Cx32-RafTR was removed using EcoR1/HindIII and the 7Kb fragment containing p0Cx32-RafTR was then used for pronuclear injection. Pronuclear injection of the cDNA fragment and embryo transplantation was performed by the Cancer Research UK Transgenic Service (Clare Hall). The Schwann cell specific P0 promoter in the mp0TOTA expression vector (Feltri et al. San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano) will be used to drive expression of a Raf kinase/oestrogen receptor ligand-binding domain fusion protein (RafTR) that has previously been characterised (Lloyd A.C. et al., 1997. Genes Dev. 11:663-77. PMID: 9119230) .
Production details: The RafTR coding sequence was amplified by PCR from the vector pLXSN3-RAFTR using the forward; 5'-CATTCCATGGAGTACTCACAGCCG-3' and reverse primers; 5'-CGATGACGTCAGATCGTGTTGGGGAAGC-3' respectively. The resulting 2.2kb fragment was cloned directly into the AatII site of P0Cx32-Nco-Myc-Aat following removal of the Myc-Tag ATG in the NcoI site. The vector backbone of P0Cx32-RafTR was removed using EcoR1/HindIII and the 7Kb fragment containing p0Cx32-RafTR was then used for pronuclear injection. Pronuclear injection of the cDNA fragment and embryo transplantation was performed by the Cancer Research UK Transgenic Service (Clare Hall). The Schwann cell specific P0 promoter in the mp0TOTA expression vector (Feltri et al. San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano) will be used to drive expression of a Raf kinase/oestrogen receptor ligand-binding domain fusion protein (RafTR) that has previously been characterised (Lloyd A.C. et al., 1997. Genes Dev. 11:663-77. PMID: 9119230) .
Shipping conditions: Embryo/Spermatoza- Dry Ice
References:

Napoli et al. 2012. Neuron. 23.73(4):729-42. PMID: 22365547

Lloyd et al. 1997. Genes Dev. 11(5):663-77. PMID: 9119230

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