Showing papers by "Paul B. Fisher published in 1988"

Regulation of class II MHC gene expression by interferons: insights into the mechanism of action of interferon (review).

Abstract: Modulation of class I and II MHC antigen expression by interferons has been the focus of considerable attention because the regulation of these molecules serves as a useful model system to study factors exerting transcriptional control of gene expression and because of the relevance of these molecules to expression of the neoplastic phenotype. While our knowledge of the molecular mechanisms regulating the ability of interferon to mediate enhancement of MHC genes has increased, this information is primarily based on studies employing established cell lines, and it remains to be determined whether similar controls are also exerted in short term cultured cell lines. In this short review, we have discussed the structural organization of the 5' flanking regions of the MHC genes, with special emphasis on class II genes, and the implications of these data for the transcriptional regulation of these and of other interferon inducible genes. Present evidence indicates the existence of at least four conserved upstream sequences which are shared by interferon responsive genes and which appear to be involved in the transcriptional control of these genes. The pattern of metabolic requirements for IFN-alpha and IFN-beta versus IFN-gamma upregulation of the class I and II MHC genes suggests that the regulation of gene expression by IFN-gamma requires unique regulatory molecules, i.e. newly synthesized proteins, which are not required by IFN-alpha and IFN-beta treated cells. These putative mediators of gene expression are likely to be shared by many of the biochemical induction pathways involved in the regulation of genes which exhibit interferon responsive sequences. However, in addition to common regulatory signals, other specific pathways and possibly additional regulatory sequences, are also required to account for locus--or subunit-specific patterns of antigenic modulation. Future studies are required, including those employing short term tumor cell cultures, to precisely define the molecular details of gene regulation of class I and II MHC genes, as well as other interferon--responsive--genes, by interferons. These investigations will not only prove valuable on a fundamental scientific level, but they will also be crucial for the more effective application of interferons in clinical oncology.

Recombinant human IFN-gamma, but not IFN-alpha or IFN-beta, enhances MHC- and non-MHC-encoded glycoproteins by a protein synthesis-dependent mechanism.

Abstract: Despite quantitative as well as qualitative differences, all three types of IFN (IFN-alpha, IFN-beta, and IFN-gamma) modulate the synthesis as well as the expression of class I and class II histocompatibility Ag and a melanoma-associated Ag located in the plasma membrane as well as the cytoplasm of human melanoma cells. By employing inhibitors of RNA and protein synthesis it was demonstrated that IFN-alpha and -beta increase the expression of histocompatibility products and this tumor-associated Ag by a process not requiring new protein synthesis. In contrast, IFN-gamma does require de novo protein synthesis for its modulatory activity. Thus, it appears that IFN might trigger various adaptive functions in different cell lineages by inducing at least two separate sets of responses specific for either IFN-alpha and -beta or IFN-gamma. Because the induction requirements for (2'-5')-oligoadenylate synthetase as well as for the development of a cellular antiviral state by different IFN also display a similar protein synthesis dependence pattern, the present results suggest that a similar set of cellular mediators may be involved in the modulation of antigenic expression by IFN-gamma in human melanoma cells.

Enhanced in vitro growth suppression of human glioblastoma cultures treated with the combination of recombinant fibroblast and immune interferons.

Abstract: In the present study we have evaluated the effect of recombinant human fibroblast, IFN-beta ser, and immune, IFN-gamma, interferon, alone and in combination, on the proliferation of fifteen early passage human glioblastoma cell cultures. Explant cultures were established from glioblastoma tumor tissue obtained at the time of surgery. After sufficient outgrowth, cultures were dispersed with trypsin/versene and maintained as independent cell lines. IFN-beta ser induced a greater than or equal to 50% reduction in the 7 day growth of 6 of the 15 cultures. The majority of cultures, 9 of 15, displayed less than or equal to 50% growth suppression in comparison with control cultures after 7 days exposure to 2000 Units/ml of IFN-beta ser. When treated with 2000 Units/ml of IFN-gamma, only 1 of the 15 glioblastoma cultures exhibited a greater than or equal to 50% reduction in growth. In contrast, when treated with the combination of IFN-beta ser plus IFN-gamma, 1000 Units/ml of each interferon preparation, 12 of 15 cultures were inhibited by greater than or equal to 50% after 7 days growth. The combination of interferons was effective in suppressing glioblastoma growth both in cultures displaying relative sensitivity and those exhibiting innate resistance to either or both types of interferon when employed alone. One glioblastoma culture, G-7, was studied through 45 passages and displayed the same sensitivity at different passages to growth inhibition when exposed to IFN-beta ser, IFN-gamma or both interferons. Based on previous clinical studies indicating that IFN-beta or IFN-gamma when administered alone to patients do not generally alter the clinical progression of malignant gliomas, the present results suggest that the combination of IFN-beta plus IFN-gamma may prove more effective than either agent alone in the clinical treatment of patients with glioblastoma multiforme.

Differential induction by immune interferon of the gene products of the HLA-D region on the melanoma cell line MeWo and its metastatic variant MeM 50-10.

Abstract: This study has shown for the first time an association between the metastatic properties of two autologous melanoma cell lines and their susceptibility to induction of HLA class II Ag by IFN-gamma. After in vitro incubation with IFN-gamma the melanoma cell line MeWo did not acquire reactivity with anti-HLA class II antibodies, whereas its metastatic variant MeM 50-10 did. The differential susceptibility to induction of HLA class II Ag on the two cell lines cannot be accounted for by either differences in the number and affinity of IFN-gamma receptors or in the sensitivity to IFN-gamma, but most likely reflects an intrinsic property of each cell line. Serologic and immunochemical investigations with anti HLA-DR, DQ, and DP mAb have indicated that only HLA-DR Ag are induced by IFN-gamma on MeM 50-10 cells. Northern blot analysis with HLA-DR beta, DQ beta, and DP beta probes suggest that different mechanisms underlie the differential susceptibility to induction by IFN-gamma of the gene products of the HLA-D region. The regulatory mechanism(s) that control the expression of HLA class II Ag appear to be different from those controlling the expression of the melanoma-associated Ag tested, inasmuch as the modulation of the latter by IFN-gamma did not differ on the two melanoma cell lines.

Effect of methyl methanesulfonate on type 5 adenovirus DNA integration and the phenotypic properties of cold-sensitive type 5 adenovirus-transformed cloned rat embryo fibroblast cells.

Abstract: Pretreatment of a cloned rat embryo fibroblast cell line (CREF) with methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) prior to infection with a specific cold-sensitive type 5 adenovirus mutant, H5hr1, results in a unique carcinogen enhancement of transformation phenotype. MMS induces a dose-dependent increase in the absolute number of transformed foci in comparison with solvent-treated controls as well as an increase in transformation frequency when normalized for carcinogen-induced cell toxicity. To determine if the carcinogen enhancement of transformation phenotype was a consequence of the carcinogen altering the pattern of type 5 adenovirus (Ad5) DNA integration into the genome of CREF cells and/or if carcinogen treatment modified the phenotype of established H5hr1-transformed CREF cells, we have analyzed a series of single cell-derived H5hr1-transformed CREF cultures which were isolated from cultures pretreated with carcinogen-solvent or MMS prior to infection with H5hr1. Analysis of viral DNA integration by DNA filter-transfer hybridization (Southern blotting) indicated that MMS pretreatment did not increase the copy number of Ad5 DNA sequences which persisted in H5hr1-transformed clones or result in transformants which contained identical DNA restriction enzyme cleavage patterns. MMS-pretreated H5hr1-transformed clones also did not differ significantly from solvent-pretreated H5hr1-transformed clones in their ability to grow in agar, bind 125I-epidermal growth factor, or form tumors in athymic nude mice. MMS-pretreated H5hr1-transformed CREF clones retained a similar cold-sensitive negative regulation in the expression of the transformed cell phenotype as did H5hr1-transformed clones not exposed to carcinogens. These findings suggest that the unique carcinogen enhancement of transformation phenotype displayed by CREF cells pretreated with MMS prior to infection with H5hr1 does not result in transformants which either contain increased concentrations of Ad5 DNA or similar patterns of Ad5 DNA integration. Furthermore, carcinogen-pretreated H5hr1 transformants did not display novel phenotypes not expressed by cloned H5hr1-transformed CREF cell lines exposed to solvent prior to viral infection.