Tumor necrosis factor alpha and gamma-interferon enhancement of anti-epidermal growth factor receptor monoclonal antibody binding to human melanoma cells.

Previous studies have demonstrated that the expression of tumor-associated antigens can be regulated by cytokines. The purpose of this study was to determine whether tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) and gamma-interferon (IFN gamma) were capable of modulating epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFr) immunorecognition on a human melanoma cell line in vitro. DX-3 melanoma cells treated for 24-72 h with various concentrations of each cytokine were incubated with an anti-EGFr monoclonal antibody (Mab) (A108) that recognizes an extracellular domain of the receptor, and differences in binding were analyzed by flow cytometry and radioimmunoassay. A dose- and time-dependent enhancement in EGFr immunorecognition was measurable in TNF alpha- and IFN gamma-treated cells. Combinations of these cytokines enhanced the recognition of EGFr on DX-3 cells to a level greater than that achieved with either TNF alpha or IFN gamma alone. Scatchard analysis of receptor binding curves revealed that there was no significant change in Mab affinity between control and cytokine-treated DX-3 melanoma cells, whereas a 1.5- to 1.8-fold enhancement in the number of Mab binding sites was measurable in TNF alpha- and IFN gamma-treated cells, respectively, when compared with controls. Immune complex kinase assay of EGFr showed threefold higher tyrosine kinase activity in TNF alpha-treated cells, but no change in kinase activity was observed following IFN gamma treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)