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Induction of c-fos gene expression by interferons
1Laboratory of Development and Molecular Immunity, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD 20892.
Journal of Interferon Research
|February 1, 1988
Summary
Murine interferons (IFNs) rapidly induce c-fos gene expression in various cells, suggesting a role for c-fos in IFN signal transduction. This induction is transient but can be stabilized and superinduced with cycloheximide.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology
- Immunology
Background:
- Interferons (IFNs) are crucial cytokines involved in immune responses and cellular regulation.
- Proto-oncogenes like c-fos play significant roles in cell growth, differentiation, and response to stimuli.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of interferons (IFNs) on the expression of the proto-oncogene c-fos.
- To determine the kinetics and regulation of c-fos induction by IFNs in different cell types.
Main Methods:
- Treatment of F9 embryonal carcinoma cells and NIH-3T3 cells with murine interferons (IFNs)-alpha/beta and -gamma.
- Analysis of c-fos mRNA expression levels using techniques to measure gene expression.
- Utilizing cycloheximide (CHX), a protein synthesis inhibitor, to study regulatory mechanisms.
Main Results:
- IFNs rapidly induced c-fos mRNA expression within 15 minutes, with levels returning to baseline by 2 hours.
- Cycloheximide (CHX) alone also induced c-fos mRNA, leading to more stable expression.
- Combined treatment with CHX and IFNs resulted in superinduction of c-fos mRNA.
- IFNs did not significantly affect c-myc mRNA expression.
Conclusions:
- Interferon signaling rapidly and transiently induces c-fos gene expression.
- The proto-oncogene c-fos appears to be involved in the signal transduction pathways activated by IFN receptor binding.
- IFN-induced c-fos expression is regulated at the post-transcriptional or translational level, as suggested by CHX experiments.