Production of a p65(fl/fl)/LysMCre mouse model with dysfunctional NF-κB signaling in bone marrow-derived macrophages

Here, we describe the production and characterization of a novel p65(fl/fl)/LysMCre mouse model, which lacks canonical nuclear factor-kappaB member RelA/p65 (indicated as p65 hereafter) in bone marrow-derived macrophages. Cultured bone marrow-derived macrophages that lack p65 protein reveal NF-κB signaling deficiencies, a reduction in phagocytic ability, and reduced ability to produce nitrites. Despite abnormal bone marrow-derived macrophage function, p65(fl/fl)/LysMCre mice do not exhibit differences in naïve systemic immune profiles or colony forming units and time to death following Salmonella infection as compared to controls. Additionally, p65(fl/fl)/LysMCre mice, especially females, display splenomegaly, but no other obvious physical or behavioral differences as compared to control animals. As bone marrow-derived macrophages from this transgenic model are almost completely devoid of canonical nuclear factor-kappaB pathway member p65, this model has the potential for being very useful in investigating bone marrow-derived macrophage NF-kappaB signaling in diverse biological and biomedical studies.