[Up-regulation of IFN-alpha on expression of MICA in the cervical carcinoma cell lines].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of IFN-alpha on expression of MHC class I chain-related protein A (MICA) in the cervical carcinoma cell lines.


METHODS
The cervical carcinoma cell lines (HeLa and Caski) were treated with IFN-alpha. The expression of MICA was measured by RT-PCR and by immunohistochemical staining. The cytotoxicity of human NK cells to the IFN-alpha treated cervical carcinoma cells was detected by MTT method.


RESULTS
The mRNA and protein expression of MICA was up-regulated by IFN-alpha in HeLa and Caski cells in a time and dose-dependent manner. Compared to Caski cells which weakly expressed MICA, higher cytolytic activity of NK cells was found against HeLa cells, which expressed relatively higher level of MICA. After being treated with IFN-alpha for 3 d, the susceptibility of the two cervical carcinoma cells to NK cytolysis was increased significantly.


CONCLUSIONS
IFN-alpha can up-regulate the MICA expression in the cervical carcinoma cell lines and thereby enhance the susceptibility to cytolysis of NK cells.
Niu
Jia-feng
JF
Institute of Basic Medicine, Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory for Tumor Immunity and Genetic Engineering of Shandong Province, Key Laboratory for Modern Medicine and Technology of Shandong Province, Jinan 250062, China.
Zhang
Cai
C
Zhang
Jian-hua
JH
Xu
Xiao-qun
XQ
Zhang
Wei-dong
WD
Wang
Jun-fu
JF
Gao
Chun-yi
CY
D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects*; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*
D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D016898:Interferon-alpha; C099187:MHC class I-related chain A; D012333:RNA, Messenger