Enhancement of HLA-DR expression in human hepato-cellular carcinoma with interferon

Objective: To inquire into the regulative effect of interferon (IFN) on HLA-DR expression in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: The expression of HLA-DR in 4 kinds of HCC cell lines, HHCC, SMMC-7721, BEL-7402, HCC-9204 and a normal liver cell line QZG was detected with immunohistochemical ABC and ELISA methods before and after being stimulated by different doses of IFN-γ or IFN-α. Results: Only a small part of SMMC-7721 cells expressed HLA-DR, and all of the other cell lines were HLA-DR negative before stimulation with IFN-γ or IFN-α. HLA-DR expression was enhanced in all of the 5 cell lines after stimulation, and it was correlated with the dose of IFN. QZG cells were less obvious than HCC cells. The effect of IFN-γ was more obvious than that of IFN-α. Conclusion: IFN can enhance HLA-DR expression in HCC cells.