Interaction of v-Ki-ras oncogene and interferon-gamma in the control of histocompatibility antigen expression in mouse fibroblasts

C3H10T1/2 fibroblasts when transformed with Kirsten murine sarcoma virus lose the ability to be induced to express class II major histocompatibility complex antigens when induced with interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma). Sublines were derived from transformed lines by cell sorting after treatment with IFN-gamma, sorting for low or high expression of H-2Ak. These sublines remained stably noninducible or inducible for class II antigen for several passages after sorting. In all other respects tested, viz, sensitivity to IFN-gamma for the generation of an antiviral state or the induction of class I antigen, content of ras gene products, the sorted sublines were very similar. We conclude that ras oncogene expression in these cells can influence the induction of class II antigen but that because ras expression in the sorted lines is similar the effect of ras expression is indirect and presumably involves interaction with other cellular factors.