Activation of class I HLA expression by TNF-alpha and gamma-interferon is mediated through protein kinase C-dependent...

The combination of tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) and gamma-interferon induced transcription of class I HLA genes in chronic myelogenous leukaemia (CML) cell lines through the formation of a complex between nuclear proteins and the transcriptional enhancers associated with these genes. Although gamma-interferon or TNF-alpha stimulated expression of class I HLA antigens in the EM2 and K562 CML cell lines when used alone, the effect of the combination of TNF-alpha and gamma-interferon was greater than that observed with either agent alone. The induction of class I HLA expression by gamma-interferon and TNF-alpha was inhibited completely by the isoquinoline sulfonamide H7, an inhibitor of protein kinase C. We conclude that the enhancement of the gamma-interferon induced transcriptional activation of class I HLA gene expression by TNF-alpha involves a protein kinase C-dependent pathway.