Figure 4

Chitosan interferon-γ nanogene (CIN) treatment induces changes in gene expression in lung dendritic cells. A, Total ribonucleic acid (RNA) from dendritic cells of ovalbumin (OVA)-allergic/-challenged mice with or without CIN treatment was isolated and assayed with the mouse TranSignal Interferon-inducible Gene Array Kit, as described in Materials and Methods. The arrays were scanned and the images analyzed using the ScionImage densitometry program. A two- to threefold increase or decrease in spot density was considered significant, and a selection of genes upregulated by CIN treatment is shown. B, Ribonuclease protection assay for CIN-induced cytokine gene expression in dendritic cells. Total RNA was isolated from CD11c⁺ lymph node dendritic cells of OVA-allergic/-challenged control and CIN-treated mice and hybridized to probes specific for interleukin (IL)-12 (p40), IL-1α, IL-18, IL-6, and interferon (IFN)-γ. The housekeeping gene, GAPDH, was included as a normalization control. The data presented are from one typical experiment of two performed. Fcgr1 = a high-affinity receptor for immunoglobulin G; H1-T23 = histocompatibility t23 region; H2-Q1 = histocompatibility 2-Q region; Ifnar2 = interferon-α receptor 2; Isg15 = interferon-induced protein, 15 kDa; Krt-17 = keratin-17; Mt1 = metallothionein 1; Pml = promyelocytic leukemia gene; Stat2 = signal transducer and activator of transcription 2; Ubc = ubiquitin C.