RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of recombinant super-compound interferon (rSIFN-co) on the proliferation and apoptosis of pulmonary adenocarcinoma cell line A549. METHODS: Screening tests were conducted to determine the concentrations of rSIFN-co that have a significant impact on A549 and the optimal concentration and duration for the test of rSIFN-co combined with Cisplatin. A549 cells were treated with rSIFN-co, Infergen, rSIFN- co+ Cisplatin, Infergen + Cisplatin, and Cisplatin, respectively, and compared with those cultured in normal medium. The viable A549 cells from Day 1 to Day 7 were detected by MTT assay. Cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry (FCM). Apoptosis-associated proteins, Fas and Bcl-2 were detected by immunofluoroscence at 48 h. RESULTS: Effective concentrations of rSIFN-co ranged from 1 to 64 µg/mL, and a minimal of 2 µg/mL Cisplatin was needed. The optimal test condition was set at 5 µg/mL rSIFN-co combined with 2 µg/mL Cisplatin for a duration of 48 h. rSIFN-co demonstrated a stronger inhibiting effect on cell proliferation than Infergen. The inhibiting efficiency of rSIFN-co+Cisplatin was also stronger than that of Infergen+Cisplatin. Apoptosis of A549 cells induced by rSIFN-co was also more significant than that of Infergen (P = 0.000). Cells treated with rSIFN- co+ Cisplatin has a higher apoptosis rate than those treated with rSIFN-co (P = 0.004) or Cisplatin (P = 0.023). rSIFN-co increased the expression of Fas and decreased the expression of Bcl-2. Cells treated with rSIFN-co showed lower fluoroscence intensity of Bcl-2 than those treated with Infergen (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: rSIFN-co inhibits the proliferation of A549 and its effect is stronger than that of Infergen. Cisplatin can further enhance the inhibiting effect of rSIFN-co. The inhibiting efficiency may be associated with the expression of apoptosis-related genes.