Decrease in lymphokine-activated killer sensitivity of a human renal-cell carcinoma cell line after cytokine treatment.

Recent studies have shown that cytokine treatment of tumor cells alters the sensitivity of these cells to lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells, depending on the cell line. In this study, we analyzed the decrease in LAK sensitivity of a human renal-cell carcinoma cell line (SMKT-R-3). The LAK sensitivity of SMKT-R-3 was decreased by treatment with a combination of interferon gamma (IFN gamma) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF). However, the cytokine treatment increased the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) on the renal-cell carcinoma cell surface. The conjugate-formation assay also confirmed a slight increase in the binding rate of LAK cells to the renal-cell carcinoma cells. When actinomycin D (a protein synthesis inhibitor) was added to the culture medium prior to treatment with IFN gamma and TNF, the LAK sensitivity of SMKT-R-3 recovered to the level demonstrated by the cells that had not received any cytokine treatment. These results suggest that the effect of cytokines in reducing LAK sensitivity of SMKT-R-3 is mediated by protein synthesis occurring when LAK cells are bound to SMKT-R-3 cells.