Y. Hariya et al., Mumps virus can suppress the effective augmentation of HPC-induced apoptosis by IFN-gamma through disruption of IFN signaling in U937 cells, MICROB IMMU, 44(6), 2000, pp. 537-541
Cells of the human promonocytic cell line U937 were found to be sensitive t
o hexadecylphosphocholine (HPC), which is a potential anticancer drug. Indu
ction of apoptosis was found in U937 cells after treatment with HPC for 24
to 48 hr, The apoptosis in U937 cells exposed to HPC was increased signific
antly in the presence of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), The augmentation of
HPC-induced apoptosis by IFN-gamma is repressed in cells (U937-MP) persiste
ntly infected with mumps virus. A persistently infected cell line, U937-MP,
showed poor induction of signal transducers and activators of transcriptio
n-1 alpha (STAT-1 alpha), STAT-2, p48 and IFN-regulatory factor-1 (IRF-1),
which are closely correlated with interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) and IFN-gamm
a signaling pathways. Expression of MHC class-I or class-II was augmented b
y IFN-alpha or IFN-gamma in U937 cells, but not in persistently infected ce
lls. Therefore, it is suggested that the IFN-gamma signaling pathway plays
an important role in the augmentation of HPC-induced apoptosis, Mumps virus
can suppress the IFN-gamma signaling pathway and subsequent development of
apoptosis.