Generation and characterization of a Meflin-CreERT2 transgenic line for lineage tracing in white adipose tissue.

• Main Authors: Takahide Kuwano, Hironori Izumi, Muhammad Rahil Aslam, Yoshiko Igarashi, Muhammad Bilal, Ayumi Nishimura, Yoshiyuki Watanabe, Allah Nawaz, Tomonobu Kado, Koichi Ikuta, Seiji Yamamoto, Masakiyo Sasahara, Shiho Fujisaka, Kunimasa Yagi, Hisashi Mori, Kazuyuki Tobe
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2021-01-01
• Series: PLoS ONE
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0248267

Meflin (Islr) expression has gained attention as a marker for mesenchymal stem cells, but its function remains largely unexplored. Here, we report the generation of Meflin-CreERT2 mice with CreERT2 inserted under the Meflin gene promoter to label Meflin-expressing cells genetically, thereby enabling their lineages to be traced. We found that in adult mice, Meflin-expressing lineage cells were present in adipose tissue stroma and had differentiated into mature adipocytes. These cells constituted Crown-like structures in the adipose tissue of mice after high-fat diet loading. Cold stimulation led to the differentiation of Meflin-expressing lineage cells into beige adipocytes. Thus, the Meflin-CreERT2 mouse line is a useful new tool for visualizing and tracking the lineage of Meflin-expressing cells.