Bovine endothelial-like cells increase intercellular junctions under treatment with interferon-gamma. An in vitro...

We have recently shown that a subgroup of endothelial-like cells from the bovine corpus luteum maintains cytokeratin (CK) expression in long-term culture. Treatment with interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) for three days brought about an increase in the intercellular junctions in CK-positive postconfluent cultures, as shown by immunofluorescence with specific monoclonal antibodies and by electron microscopy. Desmosomes, zonulae adhaerentes and both tight and gap junctions were found. The intercellular junctions (excluding the gap junctions) had increased in amount, while permeability of the cell layer to horseradish peroxidase (HRP) had decreased. Hence, IFN-gamma has reinforced intercellular junctions in our CK-positive endothelial-like cells.