Ltf-iCre Mouse

The LTF gene (lactoferrin gene) encodes a multifunctional iron-binding glycoprotein that belongs to the transferrin family. It is mainly expressed in mucosal secretions (such as milk, tears, saliva), neutrophils, mammary gland, and the epithelial cells of the respiratory and gastrointestinal tract, and is particularly abundant in milk. This gene is often used as a marker for mammary epithelial cells and some immune cells. The lactoferrin (LF) encoded by it has antibacterial, immunomodulatory, and iron homeostasis regulatory functions. By chelating free iron, it inhibits microbial growth, regulates cytokine production, and enhances the integrity of the mucosal barrier, playing an important role in maintaining the body's iron homeostasis and defending against infections. Dysregulation of LTF expression is closely associated with chronic inflammatory diseases (such as inflammatory bowel disease, cystic fibrosis), infectious diseases (such as sepsis, Helicobacter pylori infection), and certain cancers (such as breast cancer).

The Ltf-iCre mice are obtained by integrating the Kozak-iCre-P2A expression cassette upstream of the start codon of the endogenous Ltf gene in mice through gene editing technology. Under the drive of the regulatory elements of the mouse Ltf gene, the iCre recombinase (a codon-optimized Cre recombinase) is expressed. The expression pattern of the iCre recombinase is similar to that of the endogenous Ltf gene. When Ltf-iCre mice are crossed with mice containing loxP sites, Cre recombinase-mediated recombination between loxP sites is expected to occur in the female reproductive system of the offspring, especially in the endometrium (uterine epithelium).