[The effects of pcDNA3.1-IL-15 transfection on the surface molecules and immune function of murine bone marrow-derived dendritic cells].

AIM: To explore the effects of pcDNA3.1-IL-15 transfected on co-stimulatory molecule expression and immune function on murine bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (DCs). METHODS: Recombinant plasmid pcDNA3.1-IL-15 was constructed and used to transfect DCs. The expression of CD40, CD80 and CD86 on the transfected DCs was analyzed by flow cytometry. Murine splenocytes were stimulated with the transfected DCs. CD4+ and CD8+ T cell subsets in the splenocytes were analyzed by flow cytometry. The proliferation of splenocytes was detected by MTT colorimetry. The IFN-gamma in the culture supernatant of the splenocytes was detected by ELISA. RESULTS: pcDNA3.1-IL-15-transfected DCs expressed higher level of CD40, CD80 and CD86, and induced proliferation of CD4+ T cells and CD8+ T cells in the splenocytes. But the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ T cells was lower than that in the spleen cells stimulated by untransfected DCs or DCs transfected with pcDNA3.1. CONCLUSION: pcDNA3.1-IL-15 can improve the expression of co-stimulatory molecules on DCs and enhance their immune function.