Generation of Plvap-CreER and Car4-CreER for genetic targeting of distinct lung capillary populations

It has been reported recently that there are two distinct subpopulations of capillary endothelial cells in the mammalian lungs: gCap (general capillary) and aCap (aerocyte). They are identified by two unique markers, respectively: plasmalemmal vesicle-associated protein (PLVAP) and carbonic anhydrase IV (CAR4). Here, we report two novel knock-in mouse lines Plvap-CreER and Car4-CreER, which genetically target gCap and aCap, respectively. Induced by tamoxifen, the Plvap-CreER and Car4-CreER alleles mediate specific and efficient Cre-loxP recombinations in PLVAP thorn gCap and CAR4 thorn aCap, respectively, in the lungs. These two mouse lines are useful genetic tools to investigate cell fates and functions of PLVAP thorn and CAR4 thorn cells in lung homeostasis, injury and repair. Copyright (c) 2022, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Genetics Society of China. Published by Elsevier Limited and Science Press. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

It has been reported recently that there are two distinct subpopulations of capillary endothelial cells in the mammalian lungs: gCap (general capillary) and aCap (aerocyte). They are identified by two unique markers, respectively: plasmalemmal vesicle-associated protein (PLVAP) and carbonic anhydrase IV (CAR4). Novel knock-in mouse lines Plvap-CreER and Car4-CreER are reported here, which genetically target gCap and aCap, respectively. These mouse lines mediate specific and efficient Cre-loxP recombinations in PLVAP thorn gCap and CAR4 thorn aCap, respectively, in the lungs, and can be used as useful genetic tools to investigate cell fates and functions of PLVAP thorn and CAR4 thorn cells in lung homeostasis, injury and repair.