Selected lipid-based transfection reagents activate NF-κB and MAP kinases signaling pathways, induced cytokines mRNA expression in human THP-1 macrophage

Abstract

In the present study, we evaluated, under transient transfection conditions, five different cationic lipid-based transfection reagents on the activation of NF-κB, MAP kinases signaling pathways and induction of cytokines expression. We found that the reagents studied differentially regulated the NF-κB and the MAP kinases signaling pathways in the human THP-1 macrophage. Additionally, mRNA expression levels of the cytokines, IL-1β and TNF-α in THP-1 macrophage were also induced by selected test reagents. Hence, careful selection of cationic lipid-based transfection reagent for transient transfection is warranted, especially in studies of gene expression and function mediated through NF-κB- and MAP kinases-mediated pathways.