Dendritic cells transduced with lentiviral-mediated RelB-specific ShRNAs inhibit the development of experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis

Mol Immunol. 2009 Feb;46(4):657-67. doi: 10.1016/j.molimm.2008.08.274. Epub 2008 Nov 26.

Abstract

Dendritic cells (DC) are professional APC that are able to modulate immune response in either a positive or negative manner depending upon their lineage and state of maturation. RelB is a NF-kappaB family member which plays a key role in the differentiation and maturation of DC. In this study, we constructed lentiviral vector expressing RelB-specific short hairpin RNAs (ShRNAs) that efficiently silenced the RelB gene in bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs). These RelB-silenced BMDCs were maturation resistant and could functionally decrease antigen-specific T cells proliferation. We tested the therapeutic effect of RelB-silenced BMDCs in C57BL/6 mice with experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis (EAMG). Injection i.v. with RelB-silenced BMDCs plused with Torpedo acetylcholine receptor (TAChR) dominant peptide Talpha(146-162) on days 3, 33, and 63 after first immunization decreased the incidence and severity of clinical EAMG with suppressed IFN-gamma production and increased IL-10 and IL-4 production in vitro and in vivo, and also leads to a decreased serum anti-AChR IgG, IgG1, IgG2b Ab levels. Furthermore, RelB-silenced BMDCs promoted regulatory T cell profiles as indicated by a marked increase of FoxP3 in splenocyte. Our data suggested that lentiviral-mediated RNAi targeting RelB was effective methods to inhibit the maturation of BMDCs, thus possess therapeutic potential to prevent autoimmune disorders such as EAMG or human MG.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies / blood
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology
  • Dendritic Cells / metabolism
  • Dendritic Cells / transplantation*
  • Female
  • Immunotherapy, Adoptive*
  • Lentivirus / genetics
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Myasthenia Gravis, Autoimmune, Experimental / therapy*
  • NIH 3T3 Cells
  • Peptides / immunology
  • Peptides / metabolism
  • RNA Interference*
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics
  • Receptors, Cholinergic / immunology*
  • Receptors, Cholinergic / metabolism
  • Transcription Factor RelB / genetics*
  • Transcription Factor RelB / immunology
  • Transduction, Genetic

Substances

  • Antibodies
  • Peptides
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Receptors, Cholinergic
  • Relb protein, mouse
  • Transcription Factor RelB