Stable lentiviral vector-mediated gene silencing in human monocytic cell lines

A major obstacle in studying monocyte cell biology has been the resistance of these cells to genetic manipulation, particularly when using nonviral methods. In the approach outlined in this chapter, we describe a strategy for stable gene silencing of monocytic cells. Using a vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV)-pseudotyped lentiviral vector expressing short hairpin RNA (shRNA), stable silencing of the p110alpha isoform of PI3-kinase in the human monocytic cell lines THP-1 and U-937 was achieved.