Objective: To investigate the cloning and biological activities of riboenzymes against major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II transactivator (CIITA) so as to explore the feasibility of using hammerhead riboenzyme to create immune tolerance.
Methods: Three riboenzymes against MHC CIITA were synthesized and their activities were evaluated in vitro. Rz464, the riboenzyme with a better digestion effect, was inserted into the vector pIRES2-EGFP (then called pRz464). Human B lymphoma cells of Daudi line were cultured and transfected with pRz464 (then called pRz464-D). Cultured Daudi cells transfected with riboenzyme without the ability against CIITA (Rz-D) were used as control group. The expressions of classic MHC CIITA (HLA-DR, DP, and DQ) on the surface of Daudi cells before and after transfection were examined by flow cytometry.
Results: The expressions of HLA-DR, DP, and DQ on the surface of cultured Daudi cells (Rz-D) were 97.9 +/- 0.8%, 94.3 +/- 1.1%, and 54.4 +/- 3.1% respectively. The expressions of HLA-DR, DP, and DQ were inhibited by 88.4%, 83.5%, and 93.4% respectively on the surface of pRz464-D cells.
Conclusion: The hammerhead riboenzyme Rz464 inhibits the expression of CIITA mRNAs, thus inhibiting the expression of MHC II molecules. It may be used in antigen-specific tolerance induction in allo-transplantation.