Repression of interferon action: induced dedifferentiation of embryonic cells

Role of interferons in cell differentiation and development

Interferons (IFNs), besides inducing an antiviral state in uninfected cells, are also natural regulatory molecules. They play a key role in the regulation both of cell growth and differentiation, and of development. Up-or down-regulation of oncogenes by IFNs may be one of the mechanisms by which these molecules affect cell physiology. The list of IFN-inducible proteins continues to grow rapidly and future research should identify among these the mediators of the biological effects of IFNs.

Interferons in cell growth and development

Interferons (IFNs), besides inducing an antiviral state in uninfected cells, are also natural regulatory molecules. They play a key role in the regulation both of cell growth and differentiation, and of development. Up- or down-regulation of oncogenes by IFNs may be one of the mechanisms by which these molecules affect cell physiology. The list of IFN-inducible proteins continues to grow rapidly and future research should identify among these the mediators of the biological effects of IFNs.

Effect of age on viral infections: possible role of interferon

In both experimental animals and humans, three stages of susceptibility to viral infections are apparent: 1) the neonatal state, characterized by enhanced susceptibility to infections; 2) childhood and adolescence, during which there is decreased susceptibility; and 3) adulthood (sexual maturity), characterized by increased susceptibility to primary viral infections with advancing age. Moreover, advanced age is associated with reactivation of latent viruses, most notably VZV, and, most likely, oncogenic viruses as well. The mechanisms responsible for these alterations in susceptibility to viral infections have not been completely elucidated. Differences in antibody production do not seem to play a role. Most authors feel that depression of cell-mediated immunity, as measured by delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity or lymphocyte stimulation by mitogens and antigens may be of importance. There have been, however, only few studies on the role of antiviral moieties, such as the interferon(s). Our data on interferon formation in response to coxsackievirus B3 infection in mice suggest that adult mice produce relatively less interferon in relation to the amount of virus replicated in their tissues than do younger animals. Furthermore, the absolute amount of interferon produced by adult animals in response to intravenous injection of (non-replicating virus) NDV was less than that found in younger mice. We report our studies on interferon with no implication that these data supply an adequate explanation for the greater vulnerability of adult mice infected with coxsackievirus B3. It is unlikely that the matter of age and susceptibility has interferon (or indeed any other factor) as a single determinant.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Detection of an interferon antagonist, sarcolectin, in human sarcomas and muscles

In a variety of human sarcomas we detected the presence of a sarcolectin which reversed an established antiviral protection induced by interferon (IFN). For the same protein concentration, this biological activity was significantly increased when compared to that of normal muscles. All the biological characteristics were comparable to those of a sarcolectin found in hamster tissues; namely the capacity to agglutinate cells and its inhibition by specific sugars, migration in sodium dodecyl sulfate gel, and pepsin, heat and sodium dodecyl sulfate stability. Except for its anti-IFN function and cell agglutinating activity, the biological significances of this sarcolectin is presently poorly understood.

Developmentally regulated expression of the interferon system during Syrian hamster embryogenesis

Expression of interferon (IFN) during embryogenesis of the Syrian hamster has been characterized with respect to (1) the antiviral activity to IFN; (2) the activity of the IFN-induced enzyme, 2',5'-oligo A synthetase; (3) the subpopulation of IFN producing cells, and (4) the molecular structure of the elaborated IFN. These components of the IFN system were examined in cell cultures derived from embryos excised at 8-13 days of gestation and determined as a function of both in utero gestation and in vitro passaging. The antiviral responsiveness of nine-day gestation cultures (9 dgc) was 1/4-1/6 of that of 13 dgc, but in vitro passaging increased the responsiveness as did in vivo development. IFN enhancement of the synthetase level in 9 dgc was only minimal when compared with that in 13 dgc. However, the 9 dgc contained an unusually high basal level of the enzyme. During in vivo development and in vitro passaging, the basal levels of the enzymes progressively declined while the IFN-induced levels progressively increased. IFN production in embryo cells following induction by Newcastle disease virus differs substantially, depending on the gestational age of the cells. Using an agarose-overlay "zone of protection" assay, 8 dgc were found to contain 10-12 times the number of cells producing zones of protection than 13 dgc. Passaging of 9 dgc cells reduced the number of zones to the level of the 13 dgc, but had no effect on 13 dgc. Chromatographic analysis of IFN produced by 9 dgc and 13 dgc revealed the presence of an additional, unique species of "embryonic" IFN in 9 dgc which was not observed in IFN from 13 dgc. These observations suggest that the expression of various components of the IFN system are under developmental control during embryogenesis.

Interferon--present and future prospects

The interferons are a group of proteins that have inspired a new era of investigation into biological modification. The interferons are now divided into subgroups characterized by chemical means and correspond to different biological responses which can be observed in terms of the inducer used, and the timing of the response. Identified originally as antiviral agents when homologous cell systems were treated prior to infection, new studies have extended these observations to place the interferons in a central role as a strong force in the regulation of immunologic responses. A marriage of interferonology and cell immunology is enlarging both our understanding of the action of these proteins and our ability to follow the course of an illness and eventually to control its outcome . Genetic engineering has provided a way to process quantities of interferon and provided the molecular sequence of all three classes of IFN including a model of the active site for IFN-alpha. The offshot of the technology developed to study the intracellular processes after interferon treatment have already led to increased sensitivity to detect virally treated diseases. Both the variety of the interferon inducers and the scope of parasites in which it can exert its influence provide a frontier of biological investigation which has at the root of its nature the very secret of life. In addition to cellular phenomena, the positive effects on tumor-bearing organisms and the ill effects on infant animals highlight the potential power of the interferons.

Antagonism in action between mouse or human interferon and platelet growth factor

Human leukocyte and mouse fibroblast interferons abolished the mitogenic effect of human or bovine platelet growth factor (PGF) on human or mouse cells. Conversely, the antiviral and anticellular activity of both forms of interferon was inhibited by PGF in the homologous and in certain heterologous cell systems.

Interferon inhibits the conversion of 3T3-L1 mouse fibroblasts into adipocytes

Confluent Swiss mouse 3T3-L1 fibroblasts slowly differentiate functionally and morphologically into adipocytes, a conversion hastened by insulin. The cells are sensitive (although less than L929 cells) to the antiviral action of mouse fibroblast interferons but not to interferons from heterologous species (human and chicken). Cultures stimulated with insulin in the presence of partially purified or electrophoretically pure mouse interferons have a much lower percentage of cells accumulating lipid than do insulin-treated control cultures. Interferon-treated cell cultures also contain much less triglyceride, cholesterol, and cholesterol esters than do replicate control cultures stimulated by insulin to differentiate. Increased de novo lipid biosynthesis that occurs during differentiation is inhibited, as determined by incorporation of [14C]acetate into lipids extractable by the Folch method. This incorporation is a sensitive bioassay of the antidifferentiation effect of interferon; less than 1 antiviral unit is inhibitory. Variously inactivated or mock interferon preparations as well as interferons from several heterologous species fail to inhibit 3T3-L1 adipocyte conversion. Interferon is inhibitory even when applied as long as 3 days after insulin stimulation. The effect of interferon does not appear to depend upon its competition with insulin for cell surface receptors. Because interferon can alter the program of events involved in conversion of 3T3-L1 fibroblasts into adipose cells, it may be able to affect the regulation of eukaryotic cell differentiation.

Role of G0-G1 arrest in the inhibition of tumor cell growth by interferon

We report here that human leukocyte interferon preparations are capable of influencing the transition of human melanoma cells from the "A" state to the "B" phase. Human melanoma cells that enter a quiescent stage at high cell density are more sensitive to the cytostatic action of interferon than those that continue to proliferate under similar conditions. Cell cycle perturbations caused by interferon in these cells include a decreased transition rate out of G0-G1 ("A" state) into S ("B" phase) and a prolongation of S. These findings support the idea that some metabolic event is required for progress through the G0-G1 phase of the cell cycle and is susceptible to interferon action.

Mouse leukemia: depression of serum interferon production

Production of circulating interferon is significantly impaired in AKR/J mice after development of lymphoblastic leukemia and in Balb/c mice with clinical signs of Friend erythroblastic leukemia. This alteration has been observed with three interferon inducers, each one known to elicit an interferon response in different cells.

Dye uptake assay: an efficient and sensitive method for human interferon titration

Currently, human interferon (IF) assays are generally performed by plaque reduction or visual cytopathic effect methods. Both are time-consuming, subjective in interpretation, and, in the case of the latter, relatively insensitive. An adaption of the dye uptake method for human IF titration which uses foreskin-derived fibroblasts and vesicular stomatitis virus is described. This assay is reproducible and sensitive (1 unit = 3 international units). By direct comparison, however, it is somewhat less sensitive than the plaque reduction assay (1 unit = 1.1 international units). This assay is especially recommended for use in needed clinical investigations of human IF because of its technical simplicity, allowing efficient handling of large numbers of specimens.