Aim: To study the regulation of foreign plasmid DNA on immune gene expression in spleen via the gastrointestinal tract in mice.
Methods: Mice were orally administered with 200 microg of plasmid pcDNA3 and spleens were isolated at 4 h and 18 h after orally administration. Total RNA was extracted from spleen and spleen gene expression profile of BALB/c mice was analyzed by using Affymetrix oligonucleotide genechip after oral administration of plasmid pcDNA3. Functional cluster analysis was conducted by Genmapp and MAPPFinder software.
Results: A lot of immune related genes were up-regulated at 4 h and 18 h after oral plasmid pcDNA3 administration. These genes included transcription factors, cytokines and cytokine receptors, MHC I genes, proteasome genes, complement genes and apoptotic genes. The immunoglobulin genes were down-regulated. MAPPFinder result also showed that plenty of immune response processes were up-regulated.
Conclusion: Foreign plasmid DNA can modulate the expression of immune genes via the gastrointestinal tract, and further analysis of related genes and process may help to understand the molecular mechanisms of foreign plasmid DNA in the gastrointestinal tract.