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Updated: Aug 19, 2026

High-throughput Quantitative Real-time RT-PCR Assay for Determining Expression Profiles of Types I and III Interferon Subtypes
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High-throughput Quantitative Real-time RT-PCR Assay for Determining Expression Profiles of Types I and III Interferon Subtypes

Published on: March 24, 2015

Induction of c-fos gene expression by interferons

Y J Wan1, B Z Levi, K Ozato

  • 1Laboratory of Development and Molecular Immunity, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD 20892.

Journal of Interferon Research
|February 1, 1988
PubMed

Insights

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.

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