Lack of an effect of interferon α-2b on endometrioma cellular respiration

Objective: To explore the effect of INF α- 2b on oxygen consumption of endometrioma cells in culture.
Design: Oxygen consumption is evaluated by the use of phosphorimeter, which measures oxygen concentration in solution.
Patients: A sample of endometrioma from patients who had undergone surgery for such disease, was cultured to develop cell lines for this study.
Results: INF α-2b (at 4,000 units/ml) inhibited the proliferation of endometrioma cells in culture. The curves that describe [O₂] in the cell suspensions as function of time, were linear, indicating that the kinetics were zero order. INF α-2b had unnoticeable effect on the cellular oxygen consumption.
Conclusion: INF α-2b treatment does not target the energy converting mechanism in the mitochondria. Its antiproliferative effect may be related to inhibition of intracellular DNA.