To identify genes mediating the antiproliferative action of interferon (IFN), two cDNA libraries were constructed with mRNA from IFN-treated and untreated human fibrosarcoma (HT1080) cells previously shown to be highly sensitive to the antiproliferative effects of IFN. Differential screening of these two libraries identified cloned sequences whose expression was either induced or repressed with IFN treatment. Rescreening of these sequences with cDNA probes constructed from proliferating or quiescent cells led to the identification of one iFN-induced and three IFN-repressed sequences whose expressions also appeared to be modulated by cell proliferation. Blot-hybridization analysis revealed that RNA levels corresponding to the three repressed genes decreased when HT1080 cells were treated with IFN or when proliferation of normal CUA foreskin fibroblast cells became naturally arrested by contact inhibition. Levels of RNA corresponding to the induced gene increased in HT1080 cells within 24 hr after IFN-treatment but declined below basal levels by 48 hr. Expression of these genes was unaffected or only slightly affected by IFN treatment in variant cells resistant to the antiproliferative effects of IFN. Collectively, these results suggest that the identified cDNAs correspond to genes that are involved in the antiproliferative action of IFN. Moreover, these results also suggest that IFN's antiproliferative action may be exerted through genes that contribute to arresting cell proliferation during contact inhibition.

The factors that influence the development of oligodendrocyte (OLG) progenitors into mature OLGs remain elusive. Recent evidence has suggested that neu differentiation factor (NDF), which is a member of the neuregulin family of growth factors, influences the development of glial cells, including Schwann cells, astrocytes, and OLGs. Neurons are postulated to be the source of neuregulins, because neurons closely interact with these glial cells during development. In this report, we have identified the mRNA for both isoform families of NDF in cultured neonatal (immature) OLGs. We have also demonstrated that cultured neonatal OLGs contain and secrete NDF protein. These data raise the possibility that NDF could be used in an autocrine/paracrine loop by neonatal OLGs during development for survival, proliferation, and/or differentiation.

Most transcription factors are multimeric complexes whose subunits depend on strict conformation requirements to form the active unit. Among these requirements is the presence of appropriate sulfhydryl interactions that are critical to transcription factor binding to cognate DNA recognition sites. Our experiments now suggest that modulation of these sulfhydryls may involve the action of thiol-modifying oxido-reductases such as protein disulfide isomerase (PDI). Electrophoretic mobility shift titration experiments incorporating different ratios of GSH:GSSG indicated that changes in GSH and GSSG concentrations corresponding to redox potential differences of as little as +/- 15 mV enabled or abolished binding of NF-kappaB and AP1 to their cognate DNA sites. Moreover, this binding range was modulated significantly by the addition of purified protein disulfide isomerase (PDI). Collectively, these results suggest that a reversible oxidation/reduction signalling pathway may exist in the cell whereby localized changes in redox potentials and/or oxido-reductase activity can be functionally relevant in the regulation of critical gene expression events.

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