Potentiation of the cytocidal effect of human immune interferon by different synthetic double-stranded RNAs in the refractory human colon carcinoma cell line BE.

A human cell line BE, derived from an undifferentiated carcinoma of the colon, was studied for its response to the cytocidal effects of human immune interferon (IFN-gamma) alone and in combination with various double-standard RNAs (dsRNAs). BE cells were moderately refractory to 3-day treatment with IFN-gamma (10 to 300 units/ml) where only 5 to 30% reduction in colony formation occurred. A similar exposure interval to polyriboinosinic.polyribocytidylic acid [poly(I).poly(C)] (100 micrograms/ml) had no detectable effect on colony formation. In contrast, the lethal effect of the combination of IFN-gamma and poly(I).poly(C) was synergistic and this regimen produced a 40 to 80% reduction in colony formation. The cytocidal effects of the combination of IFN-gamma with varying concentrations of the dsRNAs poly(I).poly(C), polyriboadenylic.polyribouridylic acid [poly(A).poly(U)], polyriboinosinic.polyribocytidylic acid stabilized with poly-L-lysine in carboxymethylcellulose [poly(ICLC)], and mismatched dsRNA [rIn.r(C13,U)n] were also examined. The concentration of the dsRNAs producing a 50% decrease in cell viability in combination with IFN-gamma (100 units/ml) was 6 micrograms/ml for poly(I).poly(C), 1 microgram/ml for poly(A).poly(U), 3 ng/ml for poly(ICLC), and 16 micrograms/ml for rIn.r(C13,U)n. DNA, RNA, and protein synthesis in IFN-gamma and poly(I).poly(C)-treated cells were reduced in a dose-dependent manner. However, there were no changes in either (2',5')oligoadenylate concentrations or in ribosomal RNA transcription following treatment with IFN-gamma and poly(I).poly(C). Thus, the synergism resulting from the combination of IFN-gamma and dsRNA appears to be mediated via another, as yet unknown, mechanism.