title: Terminal differentiation of the human promyelocytic leukemia cell line, HL-60, in the absence of cell proliferation.
abstract: Induction of differentiation of the human promyelocytic leukemia cell line, HL-60, by dimethyl sulfoxide was analyzed for a requirement for cell replication. The ability of HL-60 cells to undergo terminal granulocytic differentiation as judged by nitroblue tetrazolium reduction, phagocytosis, and morphological criteria was not impaired by a total block in cellular proliferation. Retinoic acid, actinomycin D, and butyric acid also induced differentiation of HL-60 cells in the absence of cell growth. These results and the earlier demonstration that phorbol ester-induced macrophage differentiation of HL-60 occurred independently of DNA synthesis indicate that in these leukemic cells there is a dissociation of proliferation and maturation. The ability of retinoic acid to enhance differentiation of HL-60 cells was not altered in the presence of various growth-inhibiting concentrations of two clinically useful chemotherapeutic agents: hydroxyurea and 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine. These results suggest that combination therapy in a program aimed at both inhibiting proliferation and inducing differentiation of leukemia cells could be beneficial.
mesh_terms: D002453:Cell Cycle; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D003561:Cytarabine / Q000494:pharmacology; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D006918:Hydroxyurea / Q000494:pharmacology; D007700:Kinetics; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D003561:Cytarabine; D006918:Hydroxyurea; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide