Interferon-β prevents the upregulation of interleukin-8 expression in human melanoma cells

The constitutive expression of interleukin-8 (IL-8) by human melanoma cells correlates with their metastatic potential. The exposure of human melanoma cells to the inflammatory cytokines IL-1β or tumor necrosis factor- alpha (TNF-α) upregulated IL-8 expression in a time-dependent and concentration-dependent manner. This enhanced expression of IL-8 was inhibited by cycloheximide or actinomycin-D. Treatment of melanoma cells with interferon (IFN) alpha, beta, or gamma did not affect the constitutive expression of IL-8, but IFN-α and IFN-β blocked the upregulation of IL-8 expression in cells treated with IL-1β or TNF-α subsequent to or simultaneously with the IFN. These data suggest that the expression of IL-8 in human melanoma cells can be upregulated by inflammatory cytokines and that IFN-α and IFN-β can counterregulate this stimulation.