Induction of delta 3(4) ketosteroid synthesis by interferon in mouse adrenal tumour cell cultures

Interferon, like cholera toxin, induces in mouse adrenal YI cells the production of delta 3(4) ketosteroids. In parallel, cyclic AMP (cAMP) is activated. At high concentrations, mouse but not human interferon induces a cell rounding effect, similar to that obtained with cholera toxin. In YI cells transformed by simian adenovirus 7, production of cAMP is still increased by that of steroids is blocked. The role if interferon in these cellular events is discussed.