Figure 3

Silencing of IL-12 by siRNA interferes with the inflammatory response in vivo. siRNA was delivered with LPS (A) or therapeutically 1 h post LPS stimulation (B). Mice received transfection reagents only (no siRNA) (group I), LPS alone (group II) or were co-injected with LPS and control siRNAs (group III-V, As.siRNA, GFPsiRNA, and Mut.siRNA respectively) or LPS and IL-12p40 specific siRNA (group VI). Inflammation was characterized by flow cytometry of peritoneal lavage at 12, 24 and 48 h. The typical inflammatory cell response in the peritoneal cavity is shown in the enclosed region. Control IL-12p40^-/-mice showed the characteristic germ-line knockout response to LPS throughout the experiment (group VII). IL-12p40 siRNA was also delivered therapeutically (B) 1 h post LPS challenge, and inflammation measured at 24 h. Mice receiving control siRNAs (groups III-V) displayed a similar inflammatory response to mice receiving LPS insult alone (group II). Mice receiving IL-12p40 siRNA (group VI) displayed a reduced number of activated phagocytic cells at the same time point (enclosed region). Data are representative of at least three independent experiments (Groups I-VI) or two experiments (Group VII). In each experiment, n = at least 4 mice on each occasion. The absolute numbers of cells present in lavage fluid, represented by the enclosed region in A, are illustrated (C). Data in bar charts represent the mean number of cells (+/-SEM)/ml lavage fluid from four mice at the time points indicated.