Interferon-induced changes in expression of antigens defined by monoclonal antibodies on malignant and nonmalignant mononuclear hematopoietic cells.

The effect of alpha interferon (alpha IFN) on the expression of histocompatibility--as well as differentiation antigens on normal and malignant hematopoietic mononuclear cells--were investigated by cell cytofluorometry using a panel of monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs). An increase in the expression of HLA-antigens detected by beta 2-Microglobulin (beta 2-M) could be demonstrated for peripheral blood mononuclear cells, non-T cells, Null cells, activated T cells, fetal thymocytes, adherent cells, and on four malignant non-T lymphoblastoid cell lines. In contrast, no significant differences were observed in the expression of antigens specific for B-lymphocytes (B1), T-lymphocytes (T3, T4, T6, T8, T11), NK-cells (901) and adherent cells (Mo1-4). Likewise, the expression of Ia-antigens remained unaltered on non-T cells, Null cells, and monocytes. The only other effect of IFN was an increase in the number as well as the amount of lymphocytes expressing the T10 antigen. It thus seems that the enhancing effect of IFN on resting cells of the immune system is highly selective. On the four lymphoblastoid cell lines, the expression of the common acute lymphoblastic leukemia antigen (CALLA) was significantly decreased concomitantly with the increase in MHC-antigens. On the other hand, the density of both a HLA-D related Ia antigen (I2) and a B-lymphocyte differentiation antigen (B1) remained unaltered following IFN treatment. The implications of these findings are discussed.