Generation and validation of novel conditional flox and inducible Cre alleles targeting fibroblast growth factor 18 (Fgf18)

Background Fibroblast growth factor 18 (FGF18) functions in the development of several tissues, including the lung, limb bud, palate, skeleton, central nervous system, and hair follicle. Mice containing a germline knockout of Fgf18 (Fgf18(-/-)) die shortly after birth. Postnatally, FGF18 is being evaluated for pathogenic roles in fibrosis and several types of cancer. The specific cell types that express FGF18 have been difficult to identify, and the function of FGF18 in postnatal development and tissue homeostasis has been hampered by the perinatal lethality of Fgf18 null mice. Results We engineered a floxed allele of Fgf18 (Fgf18(flox)) that allows conditional gene inactivation and a CreER(T2) knockin allele (Fgf18(CreERT2)) that allows the precise identification of cells that express Fgf18 and their lineage. We validated the Fgf18(flox) allele by targeting it in mesenchymal tissue and primary mesoderm during embryonic development, resulting in similar phenotypes to those observed in Fgf18 null mice. We also use the Fgf18(CreERT2) allele, in combination with a conditional fluorescent reporter to confirm known and identify new sites of Fgf18 expression. Conclusion These alleles will be useful to investigate FGF18 function during organogenesis and tissue homeostasis, and to target specific cell lineages at embryonic and postnatal time points.