Upregulation of DF3, in Association with ICAM-1 and MHC Class II by IFN-γ in Short-Term Human Mammary Carcinoma Cell Cultures

This study was designed to determine whether in vitro exposure of isolated short-term human primary and metastatic breast tumor cell cultures to interferon-γ (IFN-γ) could enhance expression of the breast tumor associated DF3 antigen in association with the intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-l) and MHC class II molecules. Cell cultures were established from primary solid tumors and metastatic cells as previously described (Sgagias et al., 1995). Data show that recombinant human IFN-γ treatment, in vitro, dramatically increased the breast tumor associated DF3 antigen, in association with ICAM-l, and MHC class II antigens in primary breast cancer cell cultures. All primary breast tumor cell cultures constitutively expressed high levels of HLA-class I antigen. Metastatic breast cancer cell cultures expressed high levels of DF3 and recombinant human IFN-γ treatment, in vitro, upregulated ICAM-l and MHC class II antigens before and after passage of the metastatic cells through the nude mouse. Metastatic b...