RESUMEN
Dendritic cells (DC) represent professional antigen-presenting cells that develop from hematopoietic progenitors through successive steps of differentiation. Employing DNA microarray technology, we analysed the specific changes in gene expression that occur when human progenitor cells differentiate into DC. CD34 progenitor cells were first amplified in vitro with stem cell factor (SCF), Flt3 ligand (FL), thrombopoietin and IL-6/soluble IL-6 receptor fusion protein, and cells were then induced to differentiate into DC with IL-4 and GM-CSF. DC maturation was induced by TNFalpha. Progenitor cells and DC were subjected to transcriptional profiling by DNA microarrays that represent 13000 human genes. Our analysis revealed specific changes in the expression of a large number of cell surface antigens including molecules involved in antigen uptake and processing, cell migration and antigen presentation. Genes encoding such molecules were upregulated during DC differentiation as were genes encoding cytokines, cytokine receptors, chemokines and chemokine receptors. Stem cell genes and genes related to the multilineage differentiation potential and proliferative state of progenitor cells were downregulated. Our analysis also provides information on the expression profiles of transcriptional regulators such as the NF-kappaB/rel and STAT transcription factors. Interestingly, NF-kappaB/rel factors were found to be expressed in both progenitor cells and DC at similar levels and were induced by TNFalpha. In contrast, expression of STAT factors increased during DC differentiation and their expression was virtually unaffected by TNFalpha.
Asunto(s)
Diferenciación Celular/genética , Células Dendríticas/metabolismo , Perfilación de la Expresión Génica , Antígenos CD/análisis , Antígenos CD34/análisis , Diferenciación Celular/efectos de los fármacos , División Celular/efectos de los fármacos , División Celular/genética , Células Cultivadas , Quimiocinas/genética , Citocinas/genética , Proteínas de Unión al ADN/genética , Células Dendríticas/citología , Células Dendríticas/efectos de los fármacos , Citometría de Flujo , Factor Estimulante de Colonias de Granulocitos y Macrófagos/farmacología , Células Madre Hematopoyéticas/citología , Células Madre Hematopoyéticas/efectos de los fármacos , Células Madre Hematopoyéticas/inmunología , Humanos , Interleucina-4/farmacología , FN-kappa B/genética , Análisis de Secuencia por Matrices de Oligonucleótidos/métodos , Receptores de Quimiocina/genética , Receptores de Citocinas/genética , Transactivadores/genética , Transcripción Genética , Factor de Necrosis Tumoral alfa/farmacologíaRESUMEN
Transposons are natural gene delivery vehicles. The Sleeping Beauty (SB) transposon shows efficient transposition and long-term transgene expression in the cells of vertebrates including humans. SB transposition into chromosomal DNA occurs in a fairly random manner. This is clearly not desirable in human gene therapeutic applications because there are potential genotoxic effects associated with transposon integration. In this study we set out to manipulate the selection of SB's target sites for targeted transposition into predetermined chromosomal regions. We evaluated experimental strategies based on engineered proteins composed of DNA-binding domains fused to (i) the transposase; (ii) another protein that binds to a specific DNA sequence within the transposable element; and (iii) another protein that interacts with the transposase. We demonstrated targeted transposition into endogenous matrix attachment regions (MARs) and a chromosomally integrated tetracycline response element (TRE) in cultured human cells, using targeting proteins that bind to the transposon DNA. An approach based on interactions between the transposase and a targeting protein containing the N-terminal protein interaction domain of SB was found to enable an approximately 10(7)-fold enrichment of transgene insertion at a desired locus. Our experiments provide proof-of-principle for targeted chromosomal transposition of an otherwise randomly integrating transposon. Targeted transposition can be a powerful technology for safe transgene integration in human therapeutic applications.