Survival of the myeloid progenitor cell line FDC-P1 is prolonged by interferon-gamma or interleukin-4

Continuous proliferation of the immortalized myeloid progenitor cell line FDC-P1 depends on stimulation with either interleukin-3 (IL-3) or granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF). Two other cytokines, interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and IL-4, were found to prolong FDC-P1 survival for several days. Surviving cells incorporated [3H]thymidine and a minority completed up to 3 cell divisions before dying. This transient proliferative response was a direct effect of IFN-gamma and IL-4 since these cytokines did not induce production of detectable IL-3 or GM-CSF and the response was unaffected by cell concentration. IL-6, a constitutive product of FDC-P1 cells whose secretion was increased by IL-3, GM-CSF and IL-4 but not by IFN-gamma, was not responsible for the proliferative response. FDC-P1 lines that constitutively expressed the cell cycle-associated oncogene myc or the survival-associated oncogene bcl-2 also responded only transiently to IFN-gamma or IL-4, indicating that expression of these genes did not complement the signals delivered by IFN-gamma or IL-4. By contrast, the protein kinase C activator phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) prolonged survival of FDC-P1 cells on its own and potentiated the response to IFN-gamma or IL-4, although the combination of stimuli did not support long-term growth. It is concluded that IFN-gamma and IL-4 trigger only some of the signalling events that lead to mitogenesis; these events are complemented by stimulation with PMA but additional signals are required for sustained proliferation.