Interferon alpha-induced modulation of leukocyte cell surface antigens: immunocytofluorometric study with human leukaemia/lymphoma cell lines.

Recombinant interferon alpha enhanced the MHC class I antigen density on human leukaemia/lymphoma cell lines REH, U-937 and HL-60, as measured by immunocytofluorometry using specific monoclonal antibodies. A similar effect was induced (as demonstrated in REH cells), also by human leukocyte interferon-alpha. The latter, however, caused no major alterations in the expression of leukocyte common antigen (ICA; CD45) and transferrin receptor (CD71) in the cell lines examined. In REH cells, there was no interferon-induced alteration of CD10 antigen (CALLA), which in this cell line is markedly down-regulated by 12-0-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA). A decrease of CD4 antigen density on the cell membrane was induced by interferon-alpha in monoblastoid U-937 cells. No induction of MHC class I and II antigens by interferon-alpha was found in K-562 cell subline.