OBJECTIVETo screen stable cell clones of CCL20 gene knockdown and assess their interference effects, recombinant lentivirus vectors with CCL20 gene specific shRNA were applied to infect human immortal keratinocyte line (HaCaT).

METHODSThe three pHSER-CCL20-shRNA-GFP vectors (pHCG-1 and pHCG-2 were CCL20 gene specific, and pHCG-3 was used as mismatch control) have been previously constructed. The virus packaging cell line 293FT was transfected with these vectors by using CaCl2 methods to produce lentiviral particles. After the viral titers of these three harvested cell supernatants were determined by flow cytometry, HaCaT cells were transfected by these viruses and screened under the pressure of G418. The CCL20 mRNA from HaCaT cell clones and the CCL20 protein levels in the supernatants of HaCaT cell clones were detected by Real-time RT-PCR and ELISA, respectively.

RESULTSThe titers of three lentiviruses were 7.08 x 10(5) transduced units (TU)/ml, 1.88 x 10(5) TU /ml and 2.08 x 10(5) TU/ml, respectively. Two HaCaT cell clones from each lentiviral vectors were obtained after G418 screening for 5 - 8 weeks. Four CCL20 gene specific clones showed stable interference effect in both Real-time RT-PCR and ELISA. The mRNA expression and protein level of CCL20 gene specific clones were down regulated significantly.

CONCLUSIONSThe four human immortal keratinocyte clones with long term CCL20 gene knockdown have been screened by recombinant lentivirus vectors with CCL20 gene specific shRNA. These clones might be served as seed cells for novel tissue-engineered skin with lower rejection.