Bifunctional oligodeoxynucleotide/antagomiR constructs: evaluation of a new tool for microRNA silencing

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are fine-tuners in cellular processes, including those of the immune response. To study their functions and effects in immune cells, it is necessary to achieve specific silencing of individual miRNAs. To date, introduction of antisense microRNAs (antagomiRs) into primary cells is based on electroporation, lipofection, and viral vectors. However, these techniques often compromise viability, proliferative capacity, and differentiation. Furthermore, efficiency varies depending on the cell type and some are not suitable for in vivo approaches. To overcome these limitations we exploited the property of phosphorothioate (PTO)-modified DNA oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN) to enter cells with high efficacy: we developed and evaluated ODN/antagomiR constructs that consist of a PTO-ODN carrier covalently linked to a fully methylated antagomiR RNA sequence. Using these constructs, we achieved transfection efficiency of approximately 99% in leukocytes-in particular, in B lymphocytes that are hard to transfect with other methods. Our data demonstrate that miRNA silencing by the antagomiR portion of the constructs was specific and efficient, which could be further confirmed by an increase in target protein under silencing conditions. The constructs were successfully tested in human B cells, plasmacytoid dendritic cells, monocytes, and monocyte-derived dendritic cells, thus demonstrating their versatility. Moreover, introduction of stimulatory CpG sequences into the ODN portion conveys immune stimulatory quality when intended. Thus, bifunctional ODN/antagomiR constructs represent a highly efficient, versatile, and easy-to-handle tool to manipulate cellular miRNA expression levels and to allow the subsequent investigation of specific miRNA functions.