Mouse immune interferon enhances fibronectin production of elicited macrophages.

By using mouse immune interferon (IFN-gamma) either produced by recombinant DNA technology or partially purified from a T cell lymphoma, L12-R4, we conclusively demonstrated that mouse IFN-gamma enhances fibronectin synthesis and secretion of proteose-peptone-elicited macrophages, but not of normal macrophages. The enhancing activity of both IFN-gamma preparations was acid-labile and was neutralized by a rabbit antiserum made against native IFN-gamma. In addition, IFN-gamma induced the disappearance, as revealed by immunofluorescence studies, of the characteristic fibronectin streaks from the cell surface of elicited macrophages. Taking into account the opsonizing activity of fibronectin, these findings offer some explanations for the IFN-gamma-mediated increase of macrophage phagocytosis and tumor cell killing.