THE EFFECT OF ETHANOL ON THE EXPRESSION OF HLA CLASS-I GENES IN HUMANCOLON ADENOCARCINOMA CELL-LINES

The loss of HLA antigens by neoplastic cells may allow tumors to escap e immune surveillance. We observed reduced expression of HLA antigens during human colon carcinogenesis. Since ethanol, which is associated with human colonic carcinogenesis, modulates the expression of HLA gen es, we examined whether it affects the expression of HLA class I genes in human colon adenocarcinoma cell lines. Ethanol(1.7 x 10(-10) M to 1.7 x 10(-1) M), had no effect on the expression of HLA class I antige ns on these colonocytes, the corresponding mRNA levels, or the express ion of HLA constructs. Our findings do not support the hypothesis that ethanol may modulate the expression of HLA class I genes in human col on cancer cells.