Response of MHC Class-1 Antigen on Rat Glioma Cells to Cytokines

Background: Enhanced MHC class-1 expression has potentially been correlated with the increased susceptibility of tumor cells to a T cell-mediated immune response. We examined the immunomodulatory effects of some cytokines on MHC class-1 expression in rat glioma cell lines.

Materials And Methods: Using three rat glioma cell lines (RG2, C6, 9L), the immunomodulatory effects of cytokines (rhIL-2, rmIL-4, rmGM-CSF, rrIFN-gamma) on the expression of MHC class-1 antigen were evaluated using immunohistochemical and flow cytometric analyses.

Results: Varying baseline levels of MHC class-1 antigen were confirmed in each glioma cell line. Stimulation with rrIFN-gamma consistently increased the expression of MHC-1 antigen in all three of the rat glioma cell lines. On the other hand, MHC class-1 expression was not affected by stimulation with rhIL-2, rmIL-4 or rmGM-CSF, even in combination.

Conclusions: rrIFN-gamma can upregulate MHC class-1 expression in rat glioma cells. Our data suggest that rrIFN-gamma may be able to exert antitumor activity against gliomas in vivo.