Example 20
Materials and Experimental Methods
Detection of Cytokines in Plasma.
Serum samples obtained from blood collected at different times during and after 7 daily lipofectin-complexed mRNA administrations are analyzed for mouse IFN-α, TNF-α, and IL-12 using ELISA kits.
Northern Blot Analysis.
Aliquots (2.0 μg) of RNA samples isolated from spleen are separated by denaturing 1.4% agarose gel electrophoresis, transferred to charged membranes (Schleicher and Schuell) and hybridized in MiracleHyb® (Stratagene). Membranes are probed for TNF-α, down-stream IFN signaling molecules (e.g. IRF7, IL-12 p35 and p40, and GAPDH) and other markers of immune activation. Specificity of all probes is confirmed by sequencing. To probe the membranes, 50 ng of DNA is labeled using Redivue[α-32P] dCTP® (Amersham) with a random prime labeling kit (Roche). Hybridized membranes are exposed to Kodak BioMax MS film using an MS intensifier screen at −70° C.
Histopathology.
Spleens from EPO-ψmRNA-treated and positive and negative control-treated mice are harvested, fixed, sectioned, stained with hematoxylin and eosin and examined by a veterinary pathologist for signs of immune activation.