H11-hGFAP-CreERT2 Mouse

GFAP (glial fibrillary acidic protein) encodes a type III intermediate filament protein, which is an important cytoskeletal component in astrocytes of the central nervous system. It is involved in maintaining cell structural stability, mechanical support, and cell process morphology ^[1]. GFAP is widely expressed in mature astrocytes, and its expression levels and intermediate filament network can undergo significant changes in response to nervous system injury, inflammation, and other pathological stimuli, making it an important molecular marker of reactive astrocytes and gliosis ^[1-2]. In addition, GFAP has multiple splice isoforms, and different isoforms may have specific tissue distribution and biological functions ^[1].

H11-hGFAP-CreERT2 mice were generated by integrating the "Human GFAP promoter-Kozak-CreERT2-WPRE-BGH pA" expression cassette into the H11 locus. In the absence of tamoxifen treatment, the CreERT2 recombinase is mainly localized in the cytoplasm; after tamoxifen treatment, the CreERT2 recombinase enters the nucleus and exerts its recombination function. When H11-hGFAP-CreERT2 mice are crossed with mice carrying loxP sites, the offspring are expected to undergo Cre recombinase-mediated recombination between loxP sites in GFAP promoter-positive cells after tamoxifen induction.