Interferon increases the abundance of submembranous microfilaments in HeLa-S3 cells in suspension culture.

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Abstract
Human .beta. (fibroblast) interferon inhibits the proliferation of human HeLa-S3 carcinoma cells in suspension culture. Accompanying this effect, the lateral mobility of cell surface receptors for concanavalin A is decreased and the rigidity of the plasma membrane lipid bilayer is increased. The number of polymerized actin-containing microfilaments was markedly increased 3 days after treatment of HeLa-S3 cells with .beta.-interferon (640 U/ml). The cortical region of the treated enlarged cells contained a thick and dense meshwork of 40-70 .ANG. microfilaments. The actin nature of the filaments was verified by their ability to bind heavy meromyosin. .beta.-interferon apparently induces a coordinated response in the plasma membrane and the underlying microfilaments in both tumor and normal cells.