POSITIVE MODULATION OF HEMOGLOBIN, HEME, AND TRANSFERRIN RECEPTOR SYNTHESIS BY MURINE INTERFERON-ALPHA AND INTERFERON-BETA IN DIFFERENTIATING FRIEND-CELLS - PIVOTAL ROLE OF HEME-SYNTHESIS

Administration of highly purified preparations of murine interferon (IFN)-alpha-1, -alpha-4, -alpha-6, or -beta to Friend leukemia cells induced to differentiate by dimethyl sulfoxide leads to a 100% increase of benzidine-positive (B+) cells. Different efficiencies for the two IFN species have been observed; a 10-fold higher dose of IFN-alpha is needed for stimulation of hemoglobin production and inhibition of cell growth as compared with IFN-beta. Both species of IFN induce a substantial increase in heme, hemoglobin, and transferrin receptor levels.