The RBPMS(CreERT2-tdTomato) mouse line for studying retinal and vascular relevant diseases

RNA-binding protein with multiple splicing (RBPMS) plays a crucial role in cardiac mesoderm specification and cardiovascular development, as well as being a typical marker for whole retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). However, there is a lack of animal models to spatiotemporally trace the location and function of RBPMS-expressing cells in vivo. In this study, we develop a tamoxifen-inducible RBPMS-tdTomato reporter mouse line to track RBPMS-expressing cells during embryogenesis and adulthood. This mouse line allows us to identify and locate RBPMS-tdTomato-positive cells among various tissues, especially in RGCs and smooth muscle cells, which assist to simulate related retinal degenerative diseases, model and examine choroidal neovascularization non-invasively in vivo. Our results show that the RBPMS(CreERT2-tdTomato) mouse line is a valuable tool for lineage tracing, disease modeling, drug screening, as well as isolating specific target cells.