Objectives: It was previously found that IFN alpha could reduce, while IFN gamma could enhance metastatic potential of a mouse mammary adenocarcinoma cell line MA891. The aim of this study was to identify the sequence of cDNA fragments that were differentially expressed by the two types of IFN, respectively.
Methods: Total RNA was extracted from MA891 cells treated with IFN alpha or IFN gamma. Northern blotting was used to confirm the differentially expressed gene fragments. DNA sequencing was then carried out.
Results: The Northern blots indicated that among the 10 cDNA fragments obtained by mRNA differential display technique, 4(G15 gamma, C4 alpha, T2 gamma, and T11 gamma) were shown to be unequivocally differentially expressed. Among them, the nucleotide sequence of G15 gamma did not show homology with any of the existing genes, while that of C4 alpha, T2 gamma and T11 gamma was highly homolgous to mouse minor histocompatility complex gene, mouse beta-actin gene and hamster high blood pressure gene, respectively.
Conclusions: Four differentially expressed cDNA fragments by IFN alpha- and IFN gamma-treated MA891 cells have been ascertained. Regardless of sequence homology, none of them is reportedly related to tumor cell metastasis. The results herein reported provide basis for the elucidation of new metastasis-associated gene(s).