Inhibition of cell division and antibody secretion by murine alpha/beta interferon: effects on plasmacytoma and hybridoma lymphoid cells

• Published in: Journal of interferon research Vol. 4; no. 1; p. 41
• Main Authors: Bhayani, H, Hudson, L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 1984
• Subjects: Animals; Antibody Formation - drug effects; Cell Division - drug effects; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Hybridomas - drug effects; Hybridomas - immunology; Interferon Type I - therapeutic use; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Plasmacytoma - immunology; Plasmacytoma - therapy; Time Factors
• ISSN: 0197-8357
• DOI: 10.1089/jir.1984.4.41

Murine alpha/beta interferon (IFN) inhibited the growth of myeloma cells in vitro. Independently of the cell growth inhibition, IFN also reduced the number of antibody secreting myeloma cells as measured by haemolytic plaque assay. The sensitivity of both MOPC 315 plasmacytoma cells and 4F4 hybridoma cells varied, though not to the same extent, depending on the dose of IFN used and the duration of exposure. Inhibition of PFC activity was observed after one day of IFN treatment while inhibition of cell growth was not detected until Day 2 of incubation. A dose of 20 u/ml IFN had no effect on the growth rate of MOPC 315 cells but with 100 u/ml the inhibition of growth was virtually complete. In contrast, an inhibition of PFC activity was observed at all the concentrations tested. The cell growth and PFC activity of 4F4 hybridoma cells, on the other hand, were both inhibited by IFN when used at concentrations as low as 1.25 u/ml. Incubation with higher concentrations of IFN resulted in a progressive reduction in cell growth and PFC activity of 4F4 cells, however to a lesser degree of inhibition compared to that observed with MOPC 315 cells. For example, although virtually 70% of MOPC 315 PFC could be inhibited by culture for two days in the presence of 100 u/ml, it was necessary to use 1,250 u/ml IFN for 4 days incubation before the similar level of PFC inhibition was achieved with 4F4 cells. IFN treatment resulted in an increase in both cellular volume and protein content and this effect was prevented when IFN was previously neutralised by a specific antiserum. IFN-treated cells also showed an inhibition in the incorporation of 3[H]-thymidine but no alteration in the rate of utilization of 35[S]-methionine, when compared with an equal number of control cells.