Changes in expression of repair enzyme MGMT and protein MARP under the mutual action of cytokine IFN-α2b and alkylating agent MNNG on human cells in vitro

Abstract

Aim. To study the effect of IFN-α2b and alkylating agent MNNG on the amount of O₆-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) protein in human cells in vitro. Methods. The human cells of Hep-2 line were treated with the purified recombinant protein IFN-α2b and alkylating agent MNNG. Changes in the MGMT gene expression were studied at a protein level by Western blot analysis. Results. Joint application of IFNα2b and MNNG, as well as the separate ones, led to the growth of MGMT and MARP (anti-Methyltransferase Antibody Recognizable Protein) amounts The most significant increase of studied proteins expression was observed during joint application of MNNG (0.1 μg/ml and 0.5 μg/ml) in combination with IFNα2b at 2 IU/ml (for MGMT and MARP respectively). Conclusions. IFNα2b and MNNG caused increasing MGMT and MARP amounts in all studied concentrations from 31 to 86 % compared to the intact control.

Keywords: human cells in vitro, MGMT, MARP, cytokine IFN-α2b, alkylating agent MNNG.