Induction of Δ4 3 Ketosteroid Synthesis by Interferon in Mouse Adrenal Tumour Cell Cultures

Interferon, like cholera toxin, induces in mouse adrenal Y1 cells the production of Δ4 3 ketosteroids. In parallel, cyclic AMP (cAMP) is activated. At high concentrations, mouse but not human interferon induces a cell rounding effect, similar to that obtained with cholera toxin. In Y1 cells transformed by simian adenovirus 7, production of cAMP is still increased but that of steroids is blocked. The role of interferon in these cellular events is discussed.