title: Effect of interferon-alpha-2b on porcine mesenchymal stem cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Patients undergoing enucleation and adjuvant interferon therapy for giant cell jaw tumors have been observed to exhibit exuberant bone formation in the resultant defects. We hypothesize that interferon promotes bone formation by enhancing mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) differentiation and by stimulating osteoblasts. This is a preliminary study to determine the effects of interferon on porcine mesenchymal stem cells (pMSCs) in culture.
  
  
  METHODS
  Isolated pMSCs were grown under the following conditions: 1) MSCs alone (negative control); 2) MSCs + osteogenic supplements (positive control); and 3) MSCs + interferon (experimental). Cell cultures were evaluated morphologically, by quantitative DNA analysis, and quantitative and qualitative alkaline phosphatase analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cells treated with interferon exhibited a slower but constant proliferation rate, did not clump, and produced more alkaline phosphatase as compared with the negative control.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data indicate that interferon may act to differentiate MSCs into osteoblasts and to stimulate metabolic activity while not increasing the proliferation rate.
authors.affiliation: Skeletal Biology Research Center, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
authors.forename: Haru
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Abukawa
authors.forename: Leonard B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Kaban
authors.forename: W Bradford
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Shinichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Terada
authors.forename: Joseph P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Vacanti
authors.forename: Maria J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Troulis
mesh_terms: D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology*; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects*; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013552:Swine; D013556:Swine, Miniature
chemical_list: D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004247:DNA; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase