Transduction of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells with human alpha-interferon gene via retroviral vector

AIM:To investigate the therapeutic potential of gamma interferon (IFN-alpha) genemodified human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells.METHODS:The IFN-alpha gene was introduced retrovirally into four HCC cell lines.Secreted IFN-alpha activity was assessed using bioassay. The expression of MHC molecules was detected by FACS.Tumorigenicity was analysed by tumor formation in nude mice.RESULTS:Four IFN-alpha gene transduced HCC cell lines secreted different amounts of IFN-alpha, as in the same case of five clones derived from one HCC cell line. Transduction with IFN-alpha caused significant increase in the expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigens on HCC cells. The expression of HLA class I was increased by 2-3 times in terms of mean fluorescence intensities, while for class II expression, the percentage of positive cells augmented from < 10% to &lg 50%. When equal amount of tumor cells were injected into nude mice, the tumor igenicity some transduced cells decreased dramantically.CONCLUSION:IFN-alpha gene transduction can convert weakly imunogenic HCC cells to activate antitumor immune response, and further pave the way for the future use of such gene modified tumor cells as a modality for the cancer immunotherapy.