CYTOKINE INHIBITION OF TRANSPLASMA MEMBRANE ELECTION TRANSPORT

Two cytokines, interferon gamma and tumor necrosis factor alpha, which can inhibit cell proliferation or induce cell death, have been found to inhibit transplasma membrane electron transport The concentrations required for inhibition of election transport are similar to concentra tions effective in inhibition of cell growth. Since inhibition of elec tion transport has been related to apoptosis and modification of elect ion transport can cause oxygen radical formation, the changes in elect ron transport induced by the cytokines can contribute to known mechani sms of cytokine cytotoxicity.