Fate-mapping mice: new tools and technology for immune discovery

The fate-mapping mouse has become an essential tool in the immunologist's toolbox. Although traditionally used by developmental biologists to trace the origins of cells, immunologists are turning to fate-mapping to better understand the development and function of immune cells. Thus, an expansion in the variety of fate-mapping mouse models has occurred to answer fundamental questions about the immune system. These models are also being combined with new genetic tools to study cancer, infection, and autoimmunity. In this review, we summarize different types of fate-mapping mice and describe emerging technologies that might allow immunologists to leverage this valuable tool and expand our functional knowledge of the immune system.

Automated summary

Fate-mapping mice are essential tools for immunologists to study the development and function of immune cells. They have been expanded to answer fundamental questions about the immune system and are combined with new genetic tools to study cancer, infection, and autoimmunity. This review summarizes different types of fate-mapping mice and describes emerging technologies to expand our functional knowledge of the immune system.