RNA-seq analysis of arterial smooth muscle cells (ASMCs) isolated from the lung, heart, aorta, stomach, intestine, kidney and bladder

None of the currently available Cre recombinase-expressing mouse lines allows exclusive and specific manipulation of arterial smooth muscle cells (ASMCs). To enable targeted manipulation of ASMCs, we generated two knock-in mouse lines: one carrying a Dre recombinase cassette inserted into the Cspg4 locus (Cspg4-Dre) and another carrying a Rox-Stop-Rox-CreER cassette inserted into the Acta2 locus (Acta2-Rox-CreER). These two lines (hereafter referred to as ASMC-effector mice) were crossed with R26-LoxP-GFP reporter animals, and the offspring were treated with three doses of tamoxifen to induce recombination. This strategy resulted in robust and specific labeling of ASMCs in virtually all arteries examined.To further enhance specificity, we generated an additional line in which a tamoxifen-inducible DreERT cassette was inserted into the Cspg4 locus. This Cspg4-DreERT line also enabled specific labeling of ASMCs in distinct organs.