title: Interactions of interferons in the induction of histocompatibility antigens in mouse fibroblasts and glial cells.
abstract: The interactive effects of interferons (IFN) in the induction of class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigens in a murine fibroblast line and murine glial cells (primary astrocytes and an oligodendroglioma line) were examined. It was found that IFN-alpha and -beta were additive with IFN-gamma in the induction of class I antigens but that both IFN-alpha and -beta down-regulated the induction of class II antigens by IFN-gamma. This was most clear cut when the IFN-alpha or -beta was present in large excess in terms of anti-viral activity. Recombinant IFN-alpha 2 was found weakly to induce class II antigens, unlike natural IFN-alpha. The results imply that IFN-alpha and -beta may be important in the control of class II antigen expression in vivo although not by themselves inducing class II antigens.
authors: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, U.K.
authors: A G
authors: AG
authors: Morris
authors: P T
authors: PT
authors: Tomkins
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000032:analysis*; D007372:Interferons / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D007372:Interferons