breeding application for R26-Confetti and UPK2-cre
Purpose: In order to follow the fate of the bladder cells, we will use a mouse model expressing the Cre recombinase under the control of the uroplakin 2 (Upk2), a bladder specific promoter actively expressed in the bladder urothelium (Tg(Upk2-Cre)1Rkl/WghJ Jax Stock No.029281). By crossing this line with R26-Confetti (Jax Stock No.013731), the urothelial cells were specifically and irreversibly labelled with a fluorescent marker. To study the effects of immune cells, we plan to use a defective strain NSG, where immune cells are absent. This strain will allow for the bladder tumor development in the absence of inflammation and immune contributions.
Expected distress for the animals:
We do not foresee additional distress to these animals, except for what is occasionally associated with normal breeding. We will monitor all our breeding pairs to ensure animal well-being.
Expected scientific or societal benefit: The mouse strains is suitable to study molecular and cellular mechanisms in urothelial disease. Our project aim at characterising the unknown mechanisms governing the bladder urothelial disease. We expect our research to: (1) strongly contribute to the general data base of knowledge by depositing all the omics data in public repositories following publication thus allowing further analysis and integration from other groups addressing other biological questions; (2) decisively refine the biological interpretations, by generating the spatial and temporal dynamic map of cell identity maintenance pathways dynamic in tumours and apparently normal tissue (3) uncover new strategies for tumour control by pinpointing a series of cell-plasticity targets involved in tumour initiation and progression, that can be further validated through preclinical and clinical research, hence bearing potential clinical impact in cancer treatment. (4) potentially find a common cell-plasticity switch controlling the tumour formation between different cancers. (5) understand the impact of immune response in tumor formation. This will have an obvious clinical and social impact with repercussions on the current targeted therapies.
Number of animals to be used: a total of 1600 UPK2-cre and R26-Confetti transgenic mice; 200 NSG mice.
Replacement, reduction and improvement
We have good experience in breeding mouse strains. We therefore do not expect to increase breeding for other reasons than the use of the animals. By using our own breeding animals, we will be able to plan experiments more efficiently and reduce unnecessary purchases of animals. All experiments that do not require a living organism (lineage tracing; metabolism; systemic organ interactions) will be performed in vitro by using patient-derived hiPSC or on isolated human tumour cells. We will optimise the number of mice necessary for this project by using common experimental groups, where the same set of collected samples will be processed separately for replying distinct questions, hence halving the number of required animals. Our breeding strategy takes into the consideration the reduction of unwanted transgenic genotypes by optimising the breeding pairs. Wherever possible, we will maintain the transgenic lines as homozygous, hence assuring the chance for mice with the desired genotype thus reducing the number of mice sacrificed due to unwanted genotype.
Expected distress for the animals:
We do not foresee additional distress to these animals, except for what is occasionally associated with normal breeding. We will monitor all our breeding pairs to ensure animal well-being.
Expected scientific or societal benefit: The mouse strains is suitable to study molecular and cellular mechanisms in urothelial disease. Our project aim at characterising the unknown mechanisms governing the bladder urothelial disease. We expect our research to: (1) strongly contribute to the general data base of knowledge by depositing all the omics data in public repositories following publication thus allowing further analysis and integration from other groups addressing other biological questions; (2) decisively refine the biological interpretations, by generating the spatial and temporal dynamic map of cell identity maintenance pathways dynamic in tumours and apparently normal tissue (3) uncover new strategies for tumour control by pinpointing a series of cell-plasticity targets involved in tumour initiation and progression, that can be further validated through preclinical and clinical research, hence bearing potential clinical impact in cancer treatment. (4) potentially find a common cell-plasticity switch controlling the tumour formation between different cancers. (5) understand the impact of immune response in tumor formation. This will have an obvious clinical and social impact with repercussions on the current targeted therapies.
Number of animals to be used: a total of 1600 UPK2-cre and R26-Confetti transgenic mice; 200 NSG mice.
Replacement, reduction and improvement
We have good experience in breeding mouse strains. We therefore do not expect to increase breeding for other reasons than the use of the animals. By using our own breeding animals, we will be able to plan experiments more efficiently and reduce unnecessary purchases of animals. All experiments that do not require a living organism (lineage tracing; metabolism; systemic organ interactions) will be performed in vitro by using patient-derived hiPSC or on isolated human tumour cells. We will optimise the number of mice necessary for this project by using common experimental groups, where the same set of collected samples will be processed separately for replying distinct questions, hence halving the number of required animals. Our breeding strategy takes into the consideration the reduction of unwanted transgenic genotypes by optimising the breeding pairs. Wherever possible, we will maintain the transgenic lines as homozygous, hence assuring the chance for mice with the desired genotype thus reducing the number of mice sacrificed due to unwanted genotype.