title: Combined application of blocking antibodies and MicroRNA interference in inhibiting CD44 expression.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We sought to explore the effect of CD44 targeting on the tolerance to memory cell-mediated graft rejection.
  
  
  METHODS
  We developed a cardiac transplantation model in nude mice and administered anti-CD44 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to these mice. Then, we used anti-CD44 mAb and CD44-interfering microRNA (miRNA) to inhibit CD44 expression in vitro.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median survival time (MST) associated with multiple intraperitoneal injections was >100 days, whereas that associated with CD4(+) Tm cells blocked CD44 and that associated with a single intraperitoneal injection of anti-CD44 mAb was 11 and 10.3 days, control group was 5.5 days. The inhibition effect of the anti-CD44 mAb in 3T3 cells significantly reduced with cell proliferation. Used CD44 miRNA in 3T3 cells, the most obvious inhibition effect of mRNA appeared at 48 hours after transfection and the inhibition decreased subsequently. In combination, antibody-mediated blocking and miRNA showed some synergistic effects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The inhibition of CD44 can significantly prolong the MST in memory models. The inhibition effect of combined application showed limitations with regard to cell proliferation and duration of action, but the short-term synergistic effect of the combined approach was stronger than the effects of individual approaches.
authors.affiliation: Organ Transplantation Institute, Xiamen University, Fujian, China.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Shao
authors.forename: J-B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: J-J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Z-Q
authors.initials: ZQ
authors.lastname: Qi
mesh_terms: D016475:3T3 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology; D001483:Base Sequence; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000517:prevention & control; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000276:immunology*; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008819:Mice, Nude; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D034622:RNA Interference / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors