Targeting Morphine-Responsive Neurons: Generation of a Knock-In Mouse Line Expressing Cre Recombinase from the Mu-Opioid Receptor Gene Locus.
Fiche publication
Date publication
mai 2020
Journal
eNeuro
Auteurs
Membres identifiés du Cancéropôle Est :
Dr DARCQ Emmanuel
Tous les auteurs :
Bailly J, Del Rossi N, Runtz L, Li JJ, Park D, Scherrer G, Tanti A, Birling MC, Darcq E, Kieffer BL
Lien Pubmed
Résumé
The mu-opioid receptor (MOR) modulates nociceptive pathways and reward processing, and mediates the strong analgesic and addictive properties of both medicinal as well as abused opioid drugs. MOR function has been extensively studied, and tools to manipulate or visualize the receptor protein are available. However, circuit mechanisms underlying MOR-mediated effects are less known, because genetic access to MOR-expressing neurons is lacking. Here we report the generation of a knock-in -Cre mouse line, which allows targeting and manipulating MOR opioid-responsive neurons. A cDNA encoding a T2A cleavable peptide and Cre recombinase fused to enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP/Cre) was inserted downstream of the gene sequence. The resulting Cre line shows intact gene transcription. MOR and EGFP/Cre proteins are coexpressed in the same neurons, and localized in cytoplasmic and nuclear compartments, respectively. MOR signaling is unaltered, demonstrated by maintained DAMGO-induced G-protein activation, and MOR function is preserved as indicated by normal morphine-induced analgesia, hyperlocomotion, and sensitization. The Cre recombinase efficiently drives the expression of Cre-dependent reporter genes, shown by local virally mediated expression in the medial habenula and brain-wide fluorescence on breeding with tdTomato reporter mice, the latter showing a distribution patterns typical of MOR expression. Finally, we demonstrate that optogenetic activation of MOR neurons in the ventral tegmental area of -Cre mice evokes strong avoidance behavior, as anticipated from the literature. The -Cre line is therefore an excellent tool for both mapping and functional studies of MOR-positive neurons, and will be of broad interest for opioid, pain, and addiction research.
Mots clés
Cre-loxP system, Oprm1 gene, cell-specific gene targeting, enkephalins, knock-in mice, morphine
Référence
eNeuro. 2020 05 29;7(3):