Comparison of the cytostatic and cytolytic activity of tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin 1α in human malignant cell lines

Abstract

The cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin 1α (IL-1α) share many properties, including in-vitro cytotoxicity. Because cytotoxicity can result from either cytolytic or cytostatic activity, and because differentiating between these activities may have clinical relevance, we determined the cytostatic and cytolytic activity of TNF-α and IL-1α for the human cell lines ME-180, SiHa (cervical carcinomas) and A375 (melanoma). Results of these analyses showed that IL-1α mediated cytostatic activity only for A375 cells. IL-1α was not cytolytic in the presence or absence of protein synthesis inhibitors. TNF-α was cytostatic for A375 and ME-180 cells, and although TNF-α was not cytolytic in the absence of protein synthesis inhibitors, it was cytolytic in the presence of protein synthesis inhibitors. These results suggest that the difference between the cytolytic and cytostatic activities of IL-1α and TNF-α may have therapeutic implications for the use of these biological response modifiers in the treatment of gynecological malignancies.