Interferon-gamma activates co-ordinate transcription of HLA-DR, DQ, and DP genes in cultured keratinocytes and requires de novo protein synthesis.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of interferon-gamma on keratinocyte major histocompatibility complex class II gene transcription. Transformed human foreskin keratinocytes (SVK14 cells) were incubated with recombinant IFN-gamma in the presence or absence of the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide. Total cellular RNA was extracted from the cells and Northern blot analysis carried out using cDNA probes for all the functional class II genes. We report that 1) there is co-ordinate activation of all the class-II genes; 2) the rate of transcription varies between gene loci after activation; and 3) de novo protein synthesis is required for IFN-gamma activation of class II transcription.