Generation of a new Tbx6-inducible reporter mouse line to trace presomitic mesoderm derivatives throughout development and in adults

Abstract

The presomitic mesoderm (PSM) is initially an unsegmented structure localized on each side of the neural tube of the developing embryo, which progressively segments to form the somites. The somites will segregate and partition to generate the dorsal dermomyotome and the ventral sclerotome. Endothelial and myogenic cells of both the trunk and limbs are derived from the somites. There is a lack of efficient reporter mouse models to label and trace the PSM derivatives, despite their crucial contribution to many developmental processes. In this study, we generated a tamoxifen inducible transgenic Tbx6 mouse line, Tg(Tbx6_Cre/ERT2)/ROSA-eYFP, to tag and follow PSM-derivatives from early embryonic stages until adulthood. After induction, endothelial and myogenic cells can be easily identified within the trunk and limbs with proper expression patterns. Since our Tg(Tbx6_Cre/ERT2)/ROSA-eYFP model allows to permanently label the PSM-derived cells, their progeny can be studied at long-term, opening the possibility to perform lineage tracing of stem cells upon aging.