Interferon alfa activates a lytic mechanism in ovarian and cervical carcinoma cells.
OBJECTIVE
Our purpose was to examine the in vitro cytolytic potential of interferon alfa for human cervical and ovarian carcinoma cell lines.


METHODS
The lytic potential of interferon alfa alone and in the presence the protein synthesis inhibitors actinomycin D and emetine was determined in the human cervical carcinoma cell lines ME-180, MS751, SiHa, HT-3, and C-33A and the ovarian carcinoma cell lines Caov-3, NIH:OVCAR-3, SK-OV-3 carcinoma cell lines by means of an 18-hour chromium 51 release assay.


RESULTS
Exposure of these cell lines to interferon alfa alone did not result in lysis. Similarly, when cells were simultaneously exposed to interferon alfa and either actinomycin D or emetine there was no additional increase in lysis above that seen with actinomycin D or emetine alone. Pretreatment of cells with interferon alfa (10(3), 10(4), or 10(5) U/ml) followed by protein synthesis inhibition by actinomycin D or emetine resulted in a synergistic increase in lysis.


CONCLUSIONS
The ability to reveal the lytic potential of interferon alfa when protein synthesis is subsequently inhibited could have practical applications for the treatment of gynecologic malignancies.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of California at San Francisco 94117.
C B
CB
Powell
T
T
Horuchi
M S
MS
Kao
J L
JL
Collins
D003609:Dactinomycin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004640:Emetine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D013997:Time Factors; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000502:physiology; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*
D016898:Interferon-alpha; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D003609:Dactinomycin; D004640:Emetine