Inhibition of transcription and translation of globin messenger RNA in dimethyl sulfoxide-stimulated Friend erythroleukemic cells treated with interferon.

The addition of appropriate doses of interferon (IF) to cultures of Friend erythroleukemic cells inhibits dimethyl sulfoxide (Me2SO)-stimulated erythroid differentiation. In this study, the synthesis of heme, hemoglobin, and globin mRNA in Me2SO-stimulated cultures, with or without IF added, was compared. Although the hemoglobin content in Me2SO+IF-treated cultures was reduced 6- to 9-fold compared to that of cultures treated with Me2SO alone, there was less than a 2-fold decrease in the amount of heme accumulated. Globin mRNA, although unchanged in size or base sequence, was reduced in content in the Me2SO+IF cultures. The level of reduction of globin mRNA was insufficient to account for the lack of globin synthesis. Thus, it appears that IF may operate on two levels--one involving the transcription of globin mRNA and the other involving its translation.