Clonal derivatives of the RD-114 cell line differ in their antiviral and gene-inducing responses to interferons

The human rhabdomyosarcoma cell line RD-114 is partially responsive to interferons (IFNs). In these cells, alpha interferon (IFN-alpha) or gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) inhibits the replication of some viruses but not of others. Similarly, some of the IFN-inducible mRNAs are induced poorly, whereas others are induced well. Here we report the isolation of clonal derivatives of this line which display different spectra of responses to IFNs. Among the eight extensively characterized clonal lines, one, C10, did not respond to IFN-alpha or IFN-gamma at all. Retrovirus production by each of the seven other lines was inhibited by both IFN-alpha and IFN-gamma. Replication of vesicular stomatitis virus was inhibited strongly by IFN-alpha in clone B1 but not in others, whereas it was not appreciably affected by IFN-gamma in any clone. Replication of encephalomyocarditis virus was inhibited strongly by IFN-gamma in clones A1, A2, A3, B3, and B8 and by IFN-alpha in clone A2. Neither IFN inhibited the multiplication of these clones greatly, although their doubling times were slightly increased. Five mRNAs were induced by IFNs to varying degrees in the seven clones. mRNA 2A was most strongly induced by IFN-gamma in clone A3. mRNA 1-8 was strongly induced by IFN-alpha in clone A1 and by either IFN in clones A2 and A3. The highest concentrations of 2',5'-oligoadenylate synthetase mRNA, mRNA 561, and mRNA 6-16 were in IFN-alpha-treated clones A1 and A2. These results demonstrated the existence of clonal heterogeneity in IFN responses in a cell line and strengthened the view that IFN treatment of cells generates multiple signals leading to a variety of IFN-induced phenotypes.