Cytokine induced apoptosis in human retinoblastoma cells.

Abstract

Human retinoblastoma cells respond to IFN-gamma or a combination of IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha by becoming apoptotic, but Y79 and Weri Rb-1 cells behave differently. The differential response of the two cell lines is not due to a lack of expression of IFN-gamma or TNF-alpha receptors. The data raise the possibility that differences in apoptotic pathways exist between the two cell lines with interesting implications for the induction of apoptosis as a therapy for retinoblastoma.