Abstract 4205: The Jackson Laboratory Repository: new mouse models of cancer
Authors: Valenzuela Alicia , Donahue LR , Lutz CM , Sasner M , Rockwood SF 
Published: February 2011

The Jackson Laboratory Repository serves as a centralized facility to import, develop, preserve, and distribute mouse models to the scientific community. More than 400 strains are added annually to one of the largest collection of characterized mouse strains available.

New models of increased tumor incidence at the Repository include three transgenic strains for studies of prostate tumorogenesis that use the rat probasin promoter, (Pbsn-ERG*) develops prostate neoplasia resulting from the expression of the ERG oncogene in prostate epithelial cells; a companion strain that expresses hepsin and GFP in prostate epithelial cells (Pbsn-Hpn,-GFP); a transgenic (Pbsn-IGF1*) that develops prostate hyperplasia; a B cell lymphoma transgenic model expressing the human T-cell leukemia/lymphoma 1 gene (Cd79b-TCL1A); a mouse with a targeted mutation in the kinase Plk3 that develops spontaneous tumors in multiple organs (lung, kidney, liver); a mouse with a targeted mutation in Xpc that exhibits increased susceptibility to radiation induced skin cancer and acetylaminofluorene-induced lung and liver cancers; and a targeted mutation in the tumor suppressor, Tnk1, that develops high rates of spontaneous tumors (lymphomas and carcinomas).

Other recently added mutants allow cancer research in different areas ranging from an amino acid substitution (S10A) in Cdkn1b (p27) that reduces susceptibility to induced lung tumors to new research tools, which include a tetracycline (tetO) regulated Erbb2 (TRE-Neu) transgenic strain that develops hyperplasia in tissues where Erbb2 is expressed when combined with a tTA/rtTA strain, and a transgenic mouse, which expresses human ERBB2 (HER2) in mammary gland and brain, displays tolerance to ERBB2 antigen and may be useful in testing ERBB2-based vaccines and immunotherapies.

Equally important are the Cre recombinase-expressing strains used in conjunction with these mutants. Most of the existing Cre strains have not been fully characterized and ‘ectopic’ expression of Cre recombinase can confound analysis of experimental results. The Repository has undertaken a project to comprehensively characterize Cre recombinase activity in embryonic and adult mouse tissues. Annotated images are being published on a dedicated website and submitted to MGI as part of a collaboration to develop a Cre stain database (http://www.creportal.org/). This information will allow users to make informed judgments about the suitability of a particular line for their experiments.

The Repository maintains a searchable on-line resource (www.jaxmice.jax.org/query). Researchers wishing to have strains considered for inclusion in the Repository are encouraged to submit their strains at: www.jax.org/grc/.

The Jackson Laboratory Repository is supported by the NCRR, The Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The Ellison Medical Foundation and donations from private charitable foundations.

Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4205.