Enhancement of interferon mRNA levels in butyric acid‐treated namalwa cells

Butyric acid (BA) has been shown to affect many cellular activities [ 11, including changes in the expression of genes [2], modifications in enzyme action [3] and alterations to cellular morphology [4]. The effects depend on the cell-type being investigated, but in all cases the extent of acetylation of histones is altered and DNA synthesis is inhibited 15-71. It has been suggested that these changes are not linked to the increased expression of certain differentiated cell functions [6-91. Here we have investigated the way in which BA enhances the yield of an inducible protein, interferon ([ 10,l l] Johnston, personal communication).