title: Targeted disruption of stat6 DNA binding activity by an oligonucleotide decoy blocks IL-4-driven T(H)2 cell response.
abstract: The transcription factor, signal transducer and activator of transcription (Stat) 6, regulates T(H)2-lymphocyte activity by controlling the expression and responsiveness to interleukin (IL)-4, which plays a key role in numerous allergic maladies. Therefore, we sought to use a phosphorothiolate cis-element decoy to target disruption of Stat6 transcriptional activity. Here we showed that the Stat6 decoy potently ablated the messenger RNA expression and production of IL-4, but not of several other cytokines. The Stat6 decoy functionally disrupted IL-4-inducible cell proliferation of murine T(H)2 cells and primary human CD4(+) T lymphocytes. Specificity of the decoy was demonstrated by its ability to directly block Stat6 binding to a cis-element probe and transactivation, but not affect Stat6 tyrosine phosphorylation or expression of the IL-4 receptor chains. Moreover, the decoy failed to inhibit non-Stat6-dependent signaling pathways since IL-2 was competent to induce cell proliferation and activation of Stats 1, 3, and 5a/b. With the use of laser scanning confocal microscopy, fluorescently tagged Stat6 decoy was detectable in the cytoplasm and nucleus; however, greater levels of oligonucleotide were present in the latter following IL-4 treatment. Taken together, these data suggest that IL-4-driven T(H)2 cell activity can be preferentially restricted via targeted disruption of Stat6 by a novel and specific decoy strategy that may possess gene therapeutic potential. (Blood. 2000;95:1249-1257)
authors.affiliation: Cytokine Molecular Mechanisms Section, Laboratory of Molecular Immunoregulation, Division of Basic Sciences, Frederick, MD, USA.
authors.forename: L H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: X Y
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Kirken
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Resau
authors.forename: W L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Farrar
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D002460:Cell Line; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020319:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides, Antisense / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D050800:STAT6 Transcription Factor; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides; D020319:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides, Antisense; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D050800:STAT6 Transcription Factor; C494101:STAT6 protein, human; D015534:Trans-Activators; D015847:Interleukin-4