title: Effect of human and recombinant IFN-alpha and IFN-beta on the sister-chromatid exchange (SCE) frequency in amniotic fluid cells in vitro.
abstract: Sister-chromatid exchange (SCE) and rates of proliferation in human amniotic fluid cells from healthy donors exposed to human IFN-alpha and IFN-beta and recombinant IFN-alpha and -beta were investigated. Amniotic fluid cells were obtained from pregnant women undergoing genetic amniocentesis. For 46 h, cells were treated with IFNs at concentrations of 10(3)-10(5) U/l. A dose-depending decrease of SCE rate with IFN-alpha and IFN-beta was observed. Our studies in amniotic fluid cells show that the mean SCE frequencies are reduced after incubation with IFN-alpha as well as with IFN-alpha. In contrast to IFN-gamma, the type I IFNs IFN-alpha and IFN-beta cause a genetic effect on DNA repair or a protection from DNA damage. Previously we had shown that a significant dose-depending increase of SCE rates was found in amniotic fluid cultures after addition of IFN-gamma. Therefore, IFN-alpha and IFN-beta (both human IFNs) and also recombinant IFN-alpha and IFN-beta, also in high doses, are neither genotoxic/clastogenic nor embryotoxic. Amniotic cells are vulnerable human cells, which may be well suited for examining the effects of agents like interferon.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mertens
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Severin
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Habedank
mesh_terms: D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000166:cytology; D016587:Antimutagenic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine / Q000633:toxicity; D004249:DNA Damage; D004260:DNA Repair; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000502:physiology*; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000502:physiology*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012854:Sister Chromatid Exchange
chemical_list: D016587:Antimutagenic Agents; D007370:Interferon Type I; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016899:Interferon-beta; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine