c-MAF deletion in adult C57BL/6J mice induces cataract formation and abnormal differentiation of lens fiber cells

M Fujino, A Tagami, M Ojima, S Mizuno… - Experimental …, 2020 - jstage.jst.go.jp
M Fujino, A Tagami, M Ojima, S Mizuno, AM Abdellatif, A Kuno, S Takahashi
Experimental Animals, 2020jstage.jst.go.jp
The transcription factor c-MAF is a member of the large MAF family, members of which
possess transactivation and bZIP domains. c-MAF plays an important role in lens formation,
T-lymphocyte differentiation, hypertrophic chondrocyte differentiation, and kidney
development in mouse embryos. However, because homozygous deletion of c-Maf in
C57BL/6J mice causes embryonic lethality, the functions of c-MAF in adult mice remain
largely uninvestigated. To address this issue, we generated c-Maf floxed (c-Maffl/fl) …
Abstract
The transcription factor c-MAF is a member of the large MAF family, members of which possess transactivation and bZIP domains. c-MAF plays an important role in lens formation, T-lymphocyte differentiation, hypertrophic chondrocyte differentiation, and kidney development in mouse embryos. However, because homozygous deletion of c-Maf in C57BL/6J mice causes embryonic lethality, the functions of c-MAF in adult mice remain largely uninvestigated. To address this issue, we generated c-Maf floxed (c-Maffl/fl) C57BL/6J mice and established tamoxifen-inducible c-Maf knockout mice (c-Maffl/fl; CAG-Cre-ERTM mice, c-MafΔTAM). After tamoxifen injection, adult c-MafΔTAM mice showed successful deletion of c-Maf protein and developed severe cataracts; cataracts are also seen in human patients who have mutations in the c-MAF DNA binding domain. Furthermore, adult c-MafΔTAM mice exhibited abnormal lens structure and impaired differentiation of lens fiber cells. In summary, we established c-Maffl/fl and c-MafΔTAM C57BL/6J mice, which can be useful animal models for the investigation of c-MAF function in various developmental stages and can also be used as a disease model for cataracts.
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