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Class I Major Histocompatibility Complex Enhancement by Recombinant Leukocyte Interferon in the Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells and Plasma of Melanoma Patients¹

Immunology [P. G., R. F., P. G. N.] and Surgery [A. M. C., F. D. F.] Departments, Regina Elena Institute, Via le Regina Elena 291, 00162 Rome, Italy

In vivo administration of escalation doses of recombinant -interferon (IFN-) during a phase I trial in malignant melanoma patients caused dose-dependent increases in the mRNA accumulation, synthesis, steady state cellular content, and plasma membrane expression of class I major histocompatibility complex molecules in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. In addition, circulating levels of class I molecules were also enhanced. These findings show that (a) antigenic enhancement by biomodifiers may occur in vivo, in humans and (b) the mechanism of class I major histocompatibility complex enhancement by IFN- is similar in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, because peripheral blood mononuclear cells of different melanoma patients display different susceptibility to IFN-, the entity of their antigenic modulation may represent a useful parameter to evaluate the efficacy of different therapeutic regimens and/or assess the individual susceptibility to the molecular changes induced by IFN-.

¹ Work supported by funds from AIRC and Ministero della Sanità (P. G., P. G. N.), and by CNR Target Project Biotechnology and Bioinstrumentation (P. G.).

² To whom requests for reprints should be addressed.

Received 6/27/90. Accepted 10/31/90.