The Effect of Recombinant Cytokines on Bladder Cancer Cells in Vitro

AbstractWe have studied the Major Histocompatibility Class II-modulating and antiproliferative actions of recombinant interferon-γ, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1α, interleukin-2 and granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor on bladder cancer cells in vitro. Indirect immunofluorescent staining employing monoclonal antibody probes in conjunction with flow cytometric analysis and tritiated thymidine incorporation assays were used.Interferon-γ was a strong inducer and enhancer of class II antigens. Tumor necrosis factor-α could not induce the expression of class II antigens on tumor cells, which were initially class II-negative, but enhanced the expression on cells which already demonstrated low levels of the antigen. Interleukin-1, interleukin-2 and granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor did not affect the major histocompatibility class II expression.Interferon-γ and tumor necrosis factor-α both demonstrated powerful anti-proliferative effects on the bladder cancer cells, particular...