Increased Expression of trk Proto‐oncogene by γ‐Interferon in Human Neuroblastoma Cell Lines

Abstract

Three human neuroblastoma cell lines were examined to determine the effect of recombinant γ‐interferon (IFN‐γ) treatment on the expression of trk proto‐oncogene. Increased levels of trk proto‐oncogene mRNA were observed in two neuroblastoma cell lines (KP‐N‐RT and KP‐N‐SI(FA)) after IFN‐γ treatment. The levels of trk mRNA increased with growth inhibition and morphological change in a time‐ and dose‐dependent manner. The decreased level of N‐myc mRNA after IFN‐γ‐treatment in KP‐N‐RT was inversely correlated with trk mRNA. Our results suggest that IFN‐γ can modulate the signal transduction of nerve growth factor in human neuroblastoma cells. Copyright © 1994, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved