Induction of differentiation of the human leukemia cell line, KU812.
We treated KU812 cells from different passage levels with compounds which induce differentiation of other leukemic cell lines. Early passages contained small subpopulations of basophil and erythrocyte-like cells, but later passages consisted of more uniform cells with a myelomonocytic phenotype. When cultured with 1 nM actinomycin D, the cells became nonproliferative, developed pale cytoplasm and segmented nuclei, and lost nonspecific esterase activity. Thus, KU812 cells can be induced to mature to cells with a myelomonocytic phenotype. However, their expression of previously reported basophil characteristics diminishes with continued passage, and may be a capability of only a subpopulation of the cells.
Hematology/Oncology Section, University of Pennsylvania, School of Medicine, Philadelphia 19104.
S A
SA
Fischkoff
K
K
Kishi
W R
WR
Benjamin
R M
RM
Rossi
M C
MC
Hoessly
J A
JA
Hoxie
C
C
Seals
L
L
Anderson
T
T
Ishizaka
J
J
Hakimi
D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002460:Cell Line; D006632:Histamine / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007938:Leukemia / Q000473:pathology*; D010641:Phenotype; D012397:Rosette Formation; D013866:Thioguanine / Q000494:pharmacology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects
D006632:Histamine; D013866:Thioguanine