Expression of IKK2dn blocks CD40L-induced up-regulation of MHC antigen-presenting and costimulatory molecules.

Immature DCs were left uninfected or infected with Adβ-gal, AdNIKdn, AdIKK2dn, and AdIκBα. After culture for 2 additional days, DCs were stimulated for 48 hours with 30 μg/mL of sCD40L (A) or 100 ng/mL LPS (B) and then examined for the expression of CD80, CD86, and HLA-DR by FACS staining. Unstimulated DCs (filled histogram) were compared with sCD40L or LPS-stimulated DCs (open histogram) treated with isotype control (IC), CD80, CD86, and HLA-DR directly conjugated monoclonal antibodies. The results of 1 experiment representative of 3 independent experiments performed on samples from unrelated donors are shown.