| The ets transcription factor Fli-1 is essential for murine vascular development and is important for the development of lymphocytes, erythrocytes, megakaryocytes, granulocytes and monocytes. More importantly, Fli-1 plays roles in various murine and human cancers, warranting further investigation into its natural and pathological functions.; A tissue-specific Fli-1 overexpressing transgenic mouse model was generated using the Cre-loxP system, in which exogenous Fli-1 expression can be traced by the green fluorescence gene. Overexpression in haematopoietic and endothelial tissue caused a partial block in the development of EGFP+ double negative (CD8-/CD4-) thymocytes. Furthermore, Fli-1 overexpressing splenic T and B cells showed a marked decrease in proliferation after mitogenic stimuli. This indicates that both T cell development and proliferation are tightly controlled by ETS transcription factors; it is necessary to examine the other members of this family in the EGFP+ and negative cells from these mice, in addition to analyzing other haematopoietic lineages for appropriate markers and function. |
