MODULATION OF CELLULAR-SUSCEPTIBILITY TO THE CYTOTOXIC CYTOSTATIC ACTION OF TUMOR-NECROSIS-FACTOR BY ADENOVIRUS-E1 GENE-EXPRESSION IS CELL TYPE-DEPENDENT

Primary baby rat kidney cells, primary human embryonic retinoblast cells, established NIH3T3 and established normal rat kidney (NRK) cells, expressing Ell A and/or E1 B gene regions of adenovirus 5 (Ad5) or Ad 12, were investigated for susceptibility to the cytotoxic/cytostatic action of Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF). In the primary cells and in the NRK cells, there was no correlation between TNF sensitivity and E1 gene expression; neither did sensitivity to TNF correlate with the oncogenicity of the Ad serotype. In contrast, the expression of Ad El gene regions in NIH3T3 cells was found to enhance TNF sensitivity of this cell line. Differences in El A expression levels between cell types cannot explain this discrepancy regarding modulation of TNF sensitivity by E1A. © 1990.