Induction of the synthesis of triton-soluble proteins in human keratinocytes by gamma interferon.

Recombinant human gamma interferon (r-IFN-gamma) induces the synthesis and expression of HLA-DR antigen on cultured, normal, human keratinocytes depleted of Langerhans cells. After removal of r-IFN-gamma from the culture medium of keratinocytes that are expressing HLA-DR antigen, the cells continue to express this antigen for at least 2 days. r-IFN-gamma induces, in a dose dependent fashion, the synthesis of several triton-soluble proteins with the most prominent having an apparent molecular weight of 53,000. Whereas normal keratinocytes do not express HLA-DR antigen in vivo, they do express HLA-DR in a variety of skin diseases such as lichen planus, graft-versus-host disease, and mycosis fungoides. We propose that an understanding of lymphocyte-keratinocyte interactions in vivo may be achieved by further studies of the mechanism of action of r-IFN-gamma on cultured keratinocytes and that the results may provide insight into the patho-physiology leading to a number of common inflammatory and neoplastic skin diseases.