title: A procedure for efficient non-viral siRNA transfection of primary human monocytes using nucleofection.
abstract: Monocytes are an important constituent of the innate immune system. Therefore, manipulating gene expression of primary human monocytes is a crucial mean to study and characterize the functions of targeted proteins in monocytes. Gene silencing by transfection of cells with small interfering RNA (siRNA) leading to the degradation of the corresponding mRNA and thus to reduced target protein levels is an important tool to investigate gene and protein function of interest. However, non-viral transfection of primary monocytes is challenging because siRNA uptake by these suspended cells is tricky, and the individual cells vary among different donors and do not proliferate. Here, we describe a procedure for efficient non-viral transfection of primary human monocytes isolated from peripheral blood, which maintains cell viability and cell functions, such as responsiveness to stimuli like LPS and IL-10. Nucleofection was used as an electroporation technique that enables efficient introduction of siRNA and silencing of target genes. Using a modification of our previously published protocol for the fast-proliferating THP-1 monocytic cell line, we transfected primary human monocytes with siRNA targeting 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO). In fact, we successfully downregulated 5-LO mRNA resulting in reduced protein levels and enzymatic activity.
authors.affiliation: Pharmaceutical/Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Pharmacy, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Philosophenweg 14, 07743 Jena, Germany. Electronic address: olga.scherer@uni-jena.de.
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Scherer
authors.affiliation: Nutritional Biochemistry and Physiology, Institute of Nutrition, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Dornburger Str. 25, 07743 Jena, Germany. Electronic address: m.maess@hama-med.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Marten B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Maeß
authors.affiliation: Pharmaceutical/Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Pharmacy, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Philosophenweg 14, 07743 Jena, Germany. Electronic address: saskia.lindner@uni-jena.de.
authors.forename: Saskia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lindner
authors.affiliation: Pharmaceutical/Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Pharmacy, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Philosophenweg 14, 07743 Jena, Germany. Electronic address: ulrike.garscha@uni-jena.de.
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Garscha
authors.affiliation: Institute of Transfusion Medicine, University Hospital Jena, Erlanger Allee 101, 07747 Jena, Germany. Electronic address: christina.weinigel@med.uni-jena.de.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Weinigel
authors.affiliation: Institute of Transfusion Medicine, University Hospital Jena, Erlanger Allee 101, 07747 Jena, Germany. Electronic address: silke.rummler@med.uni-jena.de.
authors.forename: Silke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rummler
authors.affiliation: Pharmaceutical/Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Pharmacy, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Philosophenweg 14, 07743 Jena, Germany. Electronic address: oliver.werz@uni-jena.de.
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Werz
authors.affiliation: Nutritional Biochemistry and Physiology, Institute of Nutrition, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Dornburger Str. 25, 07743 Jena, Germany. Electronic address: stefan.lorkowski@uni-jena.de.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lorkowski
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001094:Arachidonate 5-Lipoxygenase / Q000235:genetics*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000235:genetics; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018274:Electroporation / Q000379:methods*; D015870:Gene Expression; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D009000:Monocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D061251:Primary Cell Culture; D034622:RNA Interference; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics*; D014162:Transfection / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D001094:Arachidonate 5-Lipoxygenase
keywords: 5-Lipoxygenase; Electroporation; Monocytes; Nucleofection; Transfection; siRNA