Tg(Itgax-BCL2)1Ple

The transgene contains the mouse dendritic cell-specific integrin alpha X (also called Cd11c) promoter, from nucleotide -821 to the ATG translation initiation codon, followed by a cDNA encoding the human B cell leukemia/lymphoma 2 protein. Real-time quantitative PCR analysis demonstrated expression of human BCL2 mRNA in spleen, lung and thymus, which contain dendritic cells, but not in heart or skeletal muscle of transgenic mice. Expression of human BCL2 protein in bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) was shown by intracellular staining and flow cytometry. Restriction of the protein's expression to dendritic cells was verified by double staining of splenocytes for human BCL2 and mouse T cell, B cell, macrophage and dendritic cell specific markers; confocal microscopy further showed correct localization of the protein to the mitochodria and endoplasmic reticulum. (J:134867)