title: Induction of the differentiation of synchronized HL-60 leukemia cells by tiazofurin.
abstract: Tiazofurin is an effective inducer of the maturation of HL-60 promyelocytic leukemia cells, as monitored by increased phagocytic ability and the capacity to reduce nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT). The antimetabolite acts as a potent inhibitor of IMP dehydrogenase, which results in a profound depression in the cellular levels of guanine nucleotides. Flow cytometric analysis of DNA histograms indicated that the commitment of HL-60 cells to differentiate when exposed to tiazofurin was preceded by a transient delay in the G1 phase of the cell cycle. HL-60 leukemia cells enriched in the various phases of the cell cycle by centrifugal elutriation were utilized to further characterize the relationship between the phase of the cell cycle and the commitment to enter a pathway of differentiation. Fractions composed mainly of G1 cells demonstrated an increased capacity to mature when exposed to tiazofurin, whereas fractions containing cells from the S and G2 + M phases of the cell cycle had a lower ability to enter a differentiation pathway. The findings suggest that the commitment of HL-60 cells to mature when exposed to tiazofurin is mediated during the G1 phase of the cell cycle.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06510.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Sokoloski
authors.forename: O C
authors.initials: OC
authors.lastname: Blair
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Carbone
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Sartorelli
mesh_terms: D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002469:Cell Separation; D002498:Centrifugation; D006801:Humans; D015473:Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute / Q000473:pathology*; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012263:Ribonucleosides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D012263:Ribonucleosides; D012254:Ribavirin; C033706:tiazofurin