Abstract
Vectors that generate antisense RNA targeted to granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) mRNA sequences were constructed using a strong viral promoter and a T cell-specific control element from the human CD2 gene. Stably transfected lymphoid clones expressing antisense RNA were tested for their ability to synthesize GM-CSF in response to stimulation with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (TPA) and ionomycin. At early time points (4 and 8 hr) following stimulation, mean GM-CSF production by clones expressing antisense RNA was 10% the mean of control clones (p<0.001). Analysis of mean log data for 15 antisense clones demonstrated that GM-CSF production remained depressed at 12 and 24 hr time points, averaging 37% of that of the control clones (p<0.01). We conclude that antisense inhibition of growth factor production may be an effective strategy to investigate the role of specific growth factors in hematopoiesis in vivo in transgenic mice.