INTERFERON-GAMMA ENHANCES TNF SENSITIVITY IN A172 HUMAN GLIOBLASTOMA CELL-LINE

Although human glioblastoma cell line A172 presents tumor necrosis fac tor (TNF) high affinity receptors, it is resistant to TNF-mediated cyt otoxicity. Preincubation of cells with 10 ng/ml interferon (IFN)-gamma for 6 h causes a great increase in TNF receptor numbers (about 477%). IFN-gamma alone is not cytotoxic in A172 cells. Cells preincubated wi th 10 ng/ml IFN-gamma for 6 h became more sensitive to the TNF cytotox icity (about 400%). In A172 cells the enhanced TNF receptor expression may contribute to the enhancement of TNF cytotoxicity. This observati on may have importance in designing new more effective therapies for h uman gliomas.