A new mouse to study IFN signaling

Stifter, S.A. et al. Cell Rep. 29, 3539–3550 (2019)

Interferons (IFN) are cytokines involved in the defense against infection. Although the role of IFN is well known, the identity and tissue distribution of IFN-responsive cells in vivo remain poorly defined, mainly because the only IFN signaling reporter mouse available (the Mx2-luciferase mouse) could not detect the IFN response at the level of individual cells.

In a new study, investigators from the University of Sydney describe an immunity-related GTPase m1 (Irgm1) reporter mouse strain (M1Red) allowing the visualization of IFN-responsive cells in vivo following inoculation with recombinant IFNs or influenza A virus. The Irgm1 gene was selected to drive dsRed expression because IRGM1 is expressed in both hematopoietic and non-hematopoietic cells and its expression is strongly induced by different types of IFNs.