GCSF receptor regulates antigen uptake and expression of cytokines and costimulatory molecules in dendritic cells

RNA interference (RNAi), a process that specifically silences target gene expression, is a powerful technique to modulate cellular functions. In this study, we identified two small interference RNA (siRNA) sequences that can specifically and efficiently silence the expression of the granulocyte colony-stimulating factor receptor (GCSF-R) gene and achieved stable knockdown of GCSF-R using pFIV lentivirus containing the GCSF-R siRNA. GCSF-R knockdown significantly reduces the expression of IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-6, IL-10, H-2K(b), I-A(b), CD80 and CD86, and increases PDL1 and PDL2 expression, while IL-12p35, TGF beta, TNF alpha and CD40 expression is unaltered. Furthermore, GCSF-R knockdown significantly changes the endocytosis and micro-pinocytosis abilities as well as surface expression of antigens of DC2.4 cells. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.