Differences in the capacity of gamma-interferons from different species to induce class I and II major histocompatibility complex antigens on neonatal rat Schwann cells in vitro.

We compared the capacity of unfractionated cytokines and recombinant gamma-interferons (gamma-IFN) to induce major histocompatibility (MHC) antigens on neonatal rat Schwann cells and endoneurial fibroblasts in vitro. Rat and mouse gamma-IFN were capable of induction of both class I and class II MHC antigens on both cell types although rat gamma-IFN was more potent than that of mouse. Human gamma-IFN failed to induce MHC class I or class II on either cell type. Unfractionated cytokines from the different species also differed in their capacity to induce MHC antigens. Differences in species of origin of cytokine mixtures as well as in individual cytokines, such as gamma-IFN need to be considered in studies of MHC induction. The presence of MHC class I and class II antigens on Schwann cells could render them susceptible to cytotoxic reactions and allow for the presentation of antigen, respectively.