HUMAN RECOMBINANT INTERFERON-BETA AND INTERFERON-GAMMA DECREASE GELATINASE PRODUCTION AND INVASION BY HUMAN KG-2 RENAL-CARCINOMA CELLS

We investigated the effects of human recombinant interferons (r-IFNs) on gelatinase production and invasion by human renal-cell carcinoma (HRCC). Incubation of KG-2 HRCC with human r-IFN-beta or -gamma (but not alpha) suppressed transcription of the 72-kDa gelatinase gene and, hence, production of gelatinase activity. These inhibitory effects of interferons (IFNs) were independent of their antiproliferative effects. Treatment of KG-2 cells with r-IFN-beta or -gamma significantly inhibited cell invasion through reconstituted basement membrane toward chemoattractants produced by kidney fibroblasts. The inhibitory activity of r-IFNs was specific to the KG-2 cells since gelatinase activity by various fibroblasts was unaffected. These findings suggest that r-IFN-beta or IFN-gamma may be used to inhibit the invasive potential of HRCC. (C) 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.