title: Induction of targeted cell migration by cutaneous administration of a DNA vector encoding a biologically active chemokine CCL21.
abstract: Skin inflammation can induce local expression of CCL21, which is subsequently drained to lymph nodes (LNs) influencing their cellular composition. To determine whether the same can be achieved by dermal administration of a plasmid DNA (pDNA) encoding CCL21, we generated a pDNA-based gene construct allowing high-level expression of CCL21. Expression and secretion of biologically active CCL21 were confirmed in vitro by immunohistochemistry, western blot analysis, ELISA, and transwell chemotactic assays. In vivo experiments showed cellular expression of transgenic CCL21 after particle-mediated gene gun delivery of pDNA into skin. CCL21 was expressed in the epidermis, consequently secreted into the upper dermis, and transported into the draining LNs, which resulted in increased CCL21 concentration, total cell number, and frequencies of CD11c(+) DCs and CD4(+)/CD62L(+) naïve, CD4(+)/CD62L(-), and CD8(+)/CD62L(-) effector memory T-cells (expressing CCL21 receptors CCR7 or CXCR3), as well as retention of adoptively transferred T-lymphocytes, in the draining LNs of plt/plt mice (lacking endogenous expression of CCL21). Our studies show that biologically active CCL21 can be overexpressed by genetic means in vitro and in vivo. This strategy allows reconstitution of a genetic defect and colocalization of different cell types in the secondary lymphoid organs, an important prerequisite for targeted cell migration.
authors.affiliation: Division of Immunology, Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Vienna, Allgemeines Krankenhaus, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, Vienna, Austria. ahmad.jalili@meduniwien.ac.at
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jalili
authors.forename: Mikhail
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pashenkov
authors.forename: Ernst
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kriehuber
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nakano
authors.forename: Georg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stingl
authors.forename: Stephan N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Wagner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D019013:CD40 Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D002460:Cell Line; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects*; D054421:Chemokine CCL21 / Q000235:genetics*; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007801:Langerhans Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D019013:CD40 Antigens; D054421:Chemokine CCL21; D004247:DNA