Transfecting macrophages

Abstract

Transfection is defined as the transfer of foreign nucleic acids into cells. In general, transfection may achieve either overexpression of a gene by the transfer of plasmid DNA or suppression of gene expression by RNA interference after transfer of small interfering RNA. Both approaches allow for the detailed investigation of the function of a particular gene product or mechanisms of gene regulation. Macrophages are considered as hard-to-transfect cells, as they have evolved to recognize foreign nucleic acids and to initiate an immune response to these molecules. The presented electroporation protocol provides an effective tool to efficiently transfect human THP-1 macrophages with siRNA or plasmid DNA while avoiding macrophage activation.