Differential regulation of interferon-induced mRNAs and c-myc mRNA by alpha- and gamma-interferons.

The extent and kinetics of induction have been determined for eight mRNAs induced by alpha- and gamma-interferons in HeLa cells. The mRNAs which code for a 2-5A synthetase, metallothionein II, HLA class I antigen and five unknown proteins were induced 2 - greater than 100-fold by alpha-interferons. In the continued presence of alpha-interferon some mRNAs were maintained at the induced levels until at least 40 h, whereas others were induced only transiently. When the effects of alpha- and gamma-interferons were compared, the induced levels and kinetics were very similar for one mRNA (1-8) but were significantly different for the others. One mRNA (6-16) was induced more than 100-fold by alpha-interferon but not significantly by gamma-interferon. Parallel analysis of the level of c-myc mRNA showed it to decrease twofold in response to alpha-interferon, but to increase more than threefold in response to gamma-interferon, despite a more profound inhibition of cell growth by the latter. There must, therefore, be differences in how the levels of different mRNAs are sustained by alpha-interferons and how alpha- and gamma-interferons regulate the levels of the same mRNAs.