ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the specificity and efficiency of YFP labeled natural killer (NK) cells through Vav-Cre induced YFP reporter system in mice. Methods ROSA26R-YFP and Vav-Cre mice were crossed, and their YFP and Cre gene double positive progeny were screened by genotyping. The specificity of YFP in hematopoietic cells from im-mune organs including lymph nodes, spleen, thymus and bone marrow were analyzed by flow cytometry. The percentages of YFP positive cells in NK cells from lymph nodes, spleen and bone marrow were also analyzed by flow cytometry. Results A total of 11 double positive mice (ROSA26R-YFP-(+/-)VavCre) were obtained in 17 mouse offspring by crossing ROSA26R-YFP mice with Vav-Cre mice. The percentages of YFP positive cells in immune organs including lymph nodes, spleen, thy-mus and bone marrow were 73.87%± 1.51%, 56.07%± 1.47%, 86.17%± 1.74%and 53.60%± 3.56%, and there were signifi-cant differences compared with the corresponding negative control cells(0.27%±0.01%, 1.33%±0.91%, 0.11%±0.01%and 0.29%± 0.03%, P0.05). The positive rates of YFP were significantly higher in NK cells in lymph nodes, spleen and bone marrow (76.94%±0.84%、81.66%±1.18%and 88.92%±0.77%) compared with those of control (P<0.01). Conclusion YFP marked NK cells through Vav-Cre induced YFP reporter system in mice have high specificity and efficiency.