Interferon-beta inhibition of concanavalin A-stimulated calcium uptake and exchange in HeLa cells.

Addition of the lectin concanavalin A (ConA) to HeLa-S3 tumor cells in culture stimulates calcium exchange and uptake. Pretreatment of the cells with interferon-beta (IFN-beta) at a concentration of 640 U/ml for 24 h markedly inhibits this ConA-stimulated calcium exchange and uptake, but not the basal level of calcium exchange. These findings suggest that a number of IFN effects on cell function may reflect an impaired ability of IFN-treated cells to respond to molecules such as growth factors and peptide hormones with increased calcium fluxes.