Interferon induction of (2′–5′) oligoisoadenylate synthetase in diploid and trisomy 21 human fibroblasts: Relation to dosage of the interferon receptor gene (IRFC)
✍ Scribed by J. Weil; Georgianne Tucker; L. B. Epstein; C. J. Epstein
- Publisher
- Springer
- Year
- 1983
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 508 KB
- Volume
- 65
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0340-6717
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✦ Synopsis
Trisomy 21 human fibroblasts are more sensitive to human interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) than are diploid controls, consistent with the location of the gene (IFRC) which codes for the IFN-alpha receptor on chromosome 21. When compared in the antiviral assay, the difference in sensitivity is five- to tenfold, much greater than the 50% difference in IFRC gene dosage. An understanding of the mechanism by which this amplification of gene dosage occurs is relevant to the specific pathology of Down's syndrome and as a model system for studying the pathogenic effects of chromosomal aneuploidy. The enzyme (2'-5') oligoisoadenylate synthetase (2-5A synthetase), which is believed to be central to the interferon-induced antiviral response, is induced 50% more in trisomy 21 fibroblasts than in diploid controls. Thus the amplification in response occurs subsequent to the binding of IFN-alpha to its receptor and the triggering of the first set of intracellular events, the latter exemplified by the induction of 2-5A synthetase. Similar results were obtained with IFN-gamma, consistent with other evidence which indicates that a gene coding for a separate IFN-gamma receptor is also located on chromosome 21.