Antiproliferative action of interferon on murine L1210 cells: interrelationship with prostaglandins

One explanation for the multiple and varied biologic effects of interferons on cells is that they induce their actives through the action of secondary molecules. One such group of biologically active molecules are prostaglandins. This report explores the relationship between the antiproliferative action of interferon and what role prostaglandins may play in this activity. The effects of cyclooxygenase inhibitors, which block prostaglandin formation, were studied on interferon sensitive and insensitive murine L1210 cells treated with murine interferon. Cyclooxygenase inhibitors partially blocked the antiproliferative effects of interferons. The blockage was only partial and was not observed in vivo in mice treated with interferons. Therefore although part of the in vitro antiproliferative activity of interferons may be mediated by prostaglandins produced by those cells, this explanation does not totally explain the antiproliferative action of interferons and was not observed in vivo.