Abstract
The antiproliferative effects of human interferons (IFN-α, IFNβ, and IFN-γ) on the human hepatoma cell line (PLC/PRF/5 cells) were investigated. Every interferon suppressed the cell multiplication in proportion to the growth rate of the cells and the exposure time of interferons, and the significant difference of cell inhibition between 2 and 6 day-treatment was demonstrated, especially with IFN-α and IFN-β. The survival rates of PLC/PRF/5 cells after 6 day-treatment with 500 units/ml of IFN-α, IFN-β, and IFN-γ were 8.9%, 2.8%, and 77.3%, respectively. The phase-contrast microscopic examination revealed that the antiproliferative effects of IFN-α and IFN-β may be cytolytic and that of IFN-γ cytostatic. The production of AFP by PLC/PRF/5 cells was suppressed by every interferon in proportion to the antiproliferative effect.
