Cdkn1a mediates mouse line- and fate-dependent cellular responses in Cx3cr1-Cre genetic tools

Microglia, resident macrophages in the central nervous system (CNS), play pivotal roles in maintaining tissue homeostasis. Genetic tools have facilitated precise monitoring and manipulation of microglia, enabling in-depth analyses to uncover their biological functions. Among the tools for studying microglia, tamoxifen (TAM)-inducible Cx3cr1-Cre mouse line (Cx3cr1CreERT2) is the most widely used tool in which the CreERT2 cassette is knocked into the genomic locus of CX3C chemokine receptor 1.. In the present study, we comparatively characterized currently available two Cx3cr1CreERT2 mouse models.