Factors involved in interferon-induced or cholera toxin-induced steroidogenesis in Y-1 mouse adrenal tumour cells

In addition to its antiviral effect, interferon, at high concentrations, stimulates steroidogenesis and provokes cell rounding in Y-1 mouse adrenal tumour cells. This stimulation was inhibited by cytochalasin B and colchicine. In contrast, dibutyryl cAMP and cholera toxin, also able to induce steroid production and cell rounding, increased steroid production even in the presence of these cytoskeleton-disrupting agents. The initial trigger for interferon or cholera toxin thus probably involves a distinct receptor organization. However, since both inducers increased cAMP synthesis in this differentiated cell line, the further metabolic steps of ketosteroid production could be the same.