J Korean Cancer Assoc.  1998 Jun;30(3):573-582.

Effects of IFN - gamma on Spheroid and Raft Culture of Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck

• Lee SJ
• Kim CD
• Koh TY
• Chang KH
• Rhee CS
• Yoon SJ
• Lee SG
• Lee HJ
• Kim KH

Abstract

PURPOSE
To establish new in vitro model systems that better reflect in vivo condition, multicellular tumor spheroids(MTS) and raft culture were developed using cell lines of squamous cell carcinoma(SCCHN) of the head and neck. In these 3-dimensional systems, the expression of cell surface molecules which are important for modulation of physiology of tumor cells were studied with or without the treatment of interferon(IFN)-gamma.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Four SCCHN cell lines were used for MTS and raft culture. The effects of interferon-gamma on SCCHN cells were examined by immunohistochemistry.
RESULTS
All cell lines formed MTS, but only Tu-138 showed a good stratification at the air-liquid interface in the raft culture system. Immunohistochemical studies of MTS using monoclonal antibodies revealed a strong staining for MHC class I, no staining for MHC-DR, a weak patch expression of ICAM-1 and a central strong staining for integrin a 6. Staining patterns were similar for the raft cultures except integrin a 6(intense full-thickness positivity). In both systems, IFN-gamma enhanced the expression of MHC-DR and ICAM-1. No significant change was found in the expression of MHC class I and integrin a 6.
CONCLUSIONS
MTS and raft culture system were established successfully from the SCCHN cell lines. IFN-gamma can modulate the surface molecules of tumor cells in the 3-dimensional culture systems.

Keyword

Multicellular tumor spheroid; Raft culture; Interferon-gamma; Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

MeSH Terms

Antibodies, Monoclonal
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell*
Cell Line
Head*
Immunohistochemistry
Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1
Interferon-gamma
Neck*
Physiology
Antibodies, Monoclonal
Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1
Interferon-gamma