ALTERATIONS IN NF-KAPPA-B REL FAMILY PROTEINS IN SPLENIC T-CELLS FROMTUMOR-BEARING MICE AND REVERSAL FOLLOWING THERAPY/

It has recently been shown that T-cell signal transduction molecules a re altered in tumor-bearing mice. We have examined the expression of N F kappa B/Rel family proteins in T-cells from mice bearing Renca, a mu rine renal carcinoma. T-cells from Renca-bearing mice expressed undete ctable levels of nuclear c-Rel, NF kappa B p65, and p50; however two s horter forms of p50 (p48 and p46), truncated at the NH2-terminus, were present exclusively in the nucleus and were able to bind DNA. These T -cells have reduced expression of gamma-interferon mRNA. In mice succe ssfully treated with flavone 8-acetic acid and recombinant human inter leukin 2, the T-cells expressed normal levels of all three nuclear NF kappa B/Rel proteins. These results suggest that alterations in transc ription factors may accompany changes in signal transduction molecules in T-cells from tumor-bearing animals; however, the changes are rever sed with successful biological therapy.