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Human cancer cells have specifically lost the ability to induce the synergistic state caused by tumor necrosis factor

Eric Bartee1, Grant McFadden

  • 1Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, 1600 SW Archer Road, R4-295, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.

Cytokine
|July 31, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Primary human cells develop a synergistic antiviral and cytostatic state when treated with tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interferon-beta (IFNβ). Cancer cells lose this crucial protective response, indicating a link between transformation and immune evasion.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Cell Biology
  • Virology

Background:

  • Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interferon (IFN) are key cytokines involved in antiviral defense and tumor suppression.
  • A novel synergistic antiviral state induced by TNF and IFNβ in primary human fibroblasts has been identified.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize the antiviral and cytostatic properties of the TNF/IFNβ synergistic state in primary human cells.
  • To investigate whether transformed human cancer cells retain the ability to induce this synergistic state.

Main Methods:

  • Primary human fibroblasts and various transformed human cancer cell lines were co-treated with TNF and IFNβ.
  • The induction of the synergistic state was assessed using three distinct criteria.

Main Results:

  • The TNF/IFNβ co-treatment induced a synergistic antiviral and cytostatic state in primary human cells.
  • Transformed human cancer cells universally lost the capacity to establish this synergistic TNF/IFNβ-mediated state.

Conclusions:

  • The ability to induce the TNF/IFNβ synergistic state is a characteristic feature of primary cells.
  • Loss of this synergistic state appears to be incompatible with cellular immortalization and transformation, suggesting a role in cancer development.

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