title: Interferon and adrenocorticotropic hormone induction of steroidogenesis, melanogenesis and antiviral activity.
abstract: Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and mouse but not human interferon caused a steroidogenic response and induced antiviral activity in mouse adrenal tumor (Y-1) cells. ACTH and human but not mouse interferon caused induction of melanin synthesis and antiviral activity in human melanoma cells. ACTH did not induce antiviral activity in mouse L or human amnion (WISH) cells. The hormonal activities of interferon were neutralized by specific rabbit anti-interferon sera. Thus, interferon has species-specific hormonal activity and ACTH has cell-specific antiviral activity. These results are discussed in terms of the possible natural functions of interferon polypeptide hormones.
mesh_terms: D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007739:L Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D008543:Melanins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008545:Melanoma / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000378:metabolism; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D008543:Melanins; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D007372:Interferons