Abstract
Three human neuroblastoma cell lines were examined to determine the effect of recombinant gamma-interferon (IFN-gamma) treatment on the expression of trk proto-oncogene. Increased levels of trk proto-oncogene mRNA were observed in two neuroblastoma cell lines (KP-N-RT and KP-N-SI(FA)) after IFN-gamma treatment. The levels of trk mRNA increased with growth inhibition and morphological change in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The decreased level of N-myc mRNA after IFN-gamma treatment in KP-N-RT was inversely correlated with trk mRNA. Our results suggest that IFN-gamma can modulate the signal transduction of nerve growth factor in human neuroblastoma cells.