Interferon-β Interrupts Interleukin-6–Dependent Signaling Events in Myeloma Cells

Abstract

AbstractType I interferons (IFNs-α and IFN-β) bind to a common receptor to exert strong antiproliferative activity on a broad range of cell types, including interleukin-6 (IL-6)–dependent myeloma cells. In this study, we investigated the effect of IFN-β pretreatment on IL-6–stimulated mitogenic signaling in the human myeloma cell line U266. IL-6 induced transient tyrosine phosphorylation of the IL-6 receptor signal-transducing subunit gp130, the gp130-associated protein tyrosine kinases Jak1, Jak2, and Tyk2, the phosphotyrosine phosphatase PTP1D/Syp, the adaptor protein Shc and the mitogen-activated protein kinase Erk2, and accumulation of GTP-bound p21ras. Prior treatment of U266 cells with IFN-β downregulated IL-6–induced tyrosine phosphorylation of gp130, Jak2, PTP1D/Syp, Shc, and Erk2, and GTP-loading of p21ras. Further analysis indicated that treatment with IFN-β disrupted IL-6–induced binding of PTP1D/Syp to gp130 and the adaptor protein Grb2; IFN-β pretreatment also interfered with IL-6–induced interaction of Shc with Grb2 and a 145-kD tyrosine-phosphorylated protein. These results suggest a novel mechanism whereby type I IFNs interrupt IL-6–promoted mitogenesis of myeloma cells in part by preventing the formation of essential signaling complexes leading to p21ras activation.