[Qualitative and quantitative histochemical evaluation of the dehydrogenase activity in human glioblastoma cells...

In an attempt to clarify the role of beta interferon in vitro cell systems, the metabolic expression of dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), by histochemical methods was studied. DHFR was also quantified by flow cytometry. Glioblastoma cell line with or without beta interferon was used. Three days after the treatment the DHFR reaction was much less intense than in the control. Quantitative data confirmed these results. Immediately afterwards, most cells exhibited much more intense reaction. These facts underlined that, in this biological model in vitro, beta interferon could reduce the synthesis of these enzymes only for a short period.