Anti-proliferation effect of interferon-α on Raji cells and its mechanism

AIM: To investigate the anti proliferation effect of interferon α(IFN α) on leukemic Raji cells and its mechanism. METHODS: Raji cells were given different concentrations of INF α. The inhibitory rate of the cells was measured by MTT assay, apoptotic rate was detected by flow cytometry (FCM), morphology of cell apoptosis was observed by Hoechst 33258 fluorescence staining, and the activity of telomerase was detected by PCR ELISA before and after apoptosis occurred. RESULTS: IFN α (over 5× 10 3 U·ml -1 ) could cause apoptosis significantly, decrease the telomerase activity, and inhibit the growth of Raji cells in time and dose dependent manner. Marked morphological changes of cell apoptosis including chromosome condensation and nuclear fragmentation were observed very clearly by Hoechst 33258 fluorescence staining especially after the cells treated with IFN α for 48-60 h. CONCLUSION: IFN α has apparent anti proliferation and apoptotic effects on Raji cells in vitro, and one of the most important mechanisms may be decrease of the telomerase activity of Raji cells. These results will provide strong laboratory evidence of IFN α in the clinical treatment of lymphoma cell leukemia.