Researchers first identified and then used CRISPR to delete an enhancer located at +32 kb of the Irf8 transcriptional start site in mice. Knocking out this enhancer revealed that interferon regulatory factor 8 (IRF8) is required for the development of classical type 1 dendritic cells (cDC1s) but not for pre-cDC1 specification, which instead is driven by a +41-kb Irf8 enhancer. These Irf8 +32^−/− mice can therefore be useful in better understanding the development of cDC1s, which are essential for antiviral and antitumor immunity.

These mice have been deposited in Jackson Labs (Stock No: 032744).

Publications: An Nfil3–Zeb2–Id2 pathway imposes Irf8 enhancer switching during cDC1 development

Cryptic activation of an Irf8 enhancer governs cDC1 fate specification