Table 4.
Induction of Apoptosis in Liver Endothelial Cells by IFN-α-2a.
| Treatment* | Liver Metastasis† | Tumor Cells‡ | Endothelial Cells§ | |||
| Median | Range | PCNA+ (%) | TUNEL+ (%) | CD-31/TUNEL (%) | Microvessel Density¶ | |
| Saline | ||||||
| 7 | 0 | 0–3 | 59±4 | 4.6±0.8 | 2.0±0.9 | 68±6 |
| 14 | 15 | 4–25 | 67±5 | 5.4±1.1 | 2.7±1.5 | 79±11 |
| 21 | 17 | 2–50 | 66±3 | 3.8±0.6 | 5.4±2.6 | 81±4 |
| IFN-α-2a | ||||||
| 7 | 0 | 0–2 | 56±6 | 5.3±1.1 | 2.9±2.1 | 70±9 |
| 14 | 3 | 0–30# | 57±3 | 4.1±1.2 | 12.1±3.9# | 37±4# |
| 21 | 2 | 1–22# | 39±2** | 1.4±2.1** | 20.2±4.5# | 29±6# |
KM12L4 IFNR cells (1x106) were injected into the spleen of nude mice. Daily s.c. injections of saline or 10,000 U of IFN-α-2a began on day 7. Groups of mice were euthanized after 7, 14, or 21 days of treatment. The livers were harvested for immunohistochemical assay.
The number of tumor foci was determined with the aid of a dissecting microscope.
Percentages of dividing cells (PCNA+) and apoptotic cells (TUNEL+) were calculated by examining at least 100 nuclei/sample.
Immunohistochemical double-staining for CD-31 (red) and TUNEL (green).
Microvessel density was determined by identifying tumor areas with the most intense CD-31 staining. Mean number of vessels±SD.
P<.001 versus control.
P<.01 versus control.