Glycosphingolipids of human umbilical vein endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells

Glycosphingolipids (GSLs) represent an important class of immunogens and receptors. Although cell surface antigens and receptors of endothelial cells (ECs) have been the subject of extensive biochemical investigation, no information is available about their GSLs. We report here the characterization by chromatographic and immunological techniques of GSLs of cultured human umbilical vein ECs and, for comparison, umbilical vein smooth muscle cells (SMCs). The most abundant neutral GSLs of both cell types were lactosylceramide, Gb3, and Gb4, and both cells contained complex lacto and globo series compounds. Immunostaining revealed that ECs, but not SMCs, contained long chain GSLs bearing a type 2 blood group H determinant. ECs also contained more long chain GSLs bearing an unsubstituted terminal lactosamine structure than SMCs. Labeling with galactose oxidase/NaB3H4 demonstrated that neutral glycolipids that contained three or more sugars were accessible on the cell surface. The major gangliosides of both cell types were GM3 and IV3NeuAcnLc4. Immunostaining following neuraminidase treatment revealed that most of the long chain gangliosides in both types of cells contained a lacto core structure, and that ganglio series compounds were more abundant in SMCs than ECs. Gangliosides that contain a polyfucosyllactosamine core and a globo core were also present in both cell types. These results demonstrate that endothelial and smooth muscle cells contain a large diversity of GSL structures, and provide the basis for investigation of the role of these GSLs as cell surface antigens and receptors for blood components.     

Glycosphingolipid patterns of peripheral blood lymphocytes, monocytes, and granulocytes are cell specific

We analyzed the amounts and types of glycosphingolipids (GSLs) from peripheral blood lymphocytes, monocytes, and granulocytes isolated by counter-current elutriation. The three cell types contained different amounts of neutral and acidic GSLs. The highest amount of neutral GSLs (109 micrograms/10(8) cells) was found in granulocytes, with considerably less found in monocytes (11 micrograms/10(8) cells) and lymphocytes (4 micrograms/10(8) cells). The neutral GSLs were composed of four types of lipids, GL1 through GL4 (mono-, di-, tri-, and tetraosylceramide). The highest percentage of GL1 was detected in lymphocytes and the lowest percentage in granulocytes, with the reverse order observed for GL2. GL3 and GL4, which were minor components of the neutral GSLs, were highly cell specific, with lymphocytes containing GL3 and GL4 of the globo series, granulocytes containing GL3 and GL4 of the lacto or neolacto series, and monocytes containing GL3 and GL4 of both types. The acidic GSL, sialosyl hexaosylceramide (lacto-series), was abundant in granulocytes but not in monocytes or lymphocytes. Another ganglioside, GM3, although present in all three cell types, was most abundant in monocytes and lymphocytes, whereas sialosyl paragloboside was higher in granulocytes than in lymphocytes and monocytes. These results indicate that peripheral blood lymphocytes, monocytes, and granulocytes have distinct "GSL fingerprints."     

1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3-induced differentiation in a human promyelocytic leukemia cell line (HL-60): receptor-mediated maturation to macrophage-like cells

The human-derived promyelocytic leukemia cell line, HL-60, is known to differentiate into mature myeloid cells in the presence of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25[OH]2D3). We investigated differentiation by monitoring 1,25(OH)2D3-exposed HL-60 cells for phagocytic activity, ability to reduce nitroblue tetrazolium, binding of the chemotaxin N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-[3H]phenylalanine, development of nonspecific acid esterase activity, and morphological maturation of Wright-Giemsa-stained cells. 1,25(OH)2D3 concentrations as low as 10(-10) M caused significant development of phagocytosis, nitroblue tetrazolium reduction, and the emergence of differentiated myeloid cells that had morphological characteristics of both metamyelocytes and monocytes. These cells were conclusively identified as monocytes/macrophages based upon their adherence to the plastic flasks and their content of the macrophage-characteristic nonspecific acid esterase enzyme. The estimated ED50 for 1,25(OH)2D3-induced differentiation based upon nitroblue tetrazolium reduction and N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-[3H]phenylalanine binding was 5.7 X 10(-9) M. HL-60 cells exhibited a complex growth response with various levels of 1,25(OH)2D3: less than or equal to 10(-10) M had no detectable effect, 10(-9) M stimulated growth, and greater than or equal to 10(-8) M sharply inhibited proliferation. We also detected and quantitated the specific receptor for 1,25(OH)2D3 in HL-60 and HL-60 Blast, a sub-clone resistant to the growth and differentiation effects of 1,25(OH)2D3. The receptor in both lines was characterized as a DNA-binding protein that migrated at 3.3S on high-salt sucrose gradients. Unequivocal identification was provided by selective dissociation of the 1,25(OH)2D3-receptor complex with the mercurial reagent, p-chloromercuribenzenesulfonic acid, and by a shift in its sedimentation position upon complexing with anti-receptor monoclonal antibody. On the basis of labeling of whole cells with 1,25(OH)2[3H]D3 in culture, we found that HL-60 contains approximately 4,000 1,25(OH)2D3 receptor molecules per cell, while the nonresponsive HL-60 Blast is endowed with approximately 8% of that number. The concentration of 1,25(OH)2D3 (5 X 10(-9) M) in complete culture medium, which facilitates the saturation of receptors in HL-60 cells, is virtually identical to the ED50 for the sterol's induction of differentiation. This correspondence, plus the resistance of the relatively receptor-poor HL-60 Blast, indicates that 1,25(OH)2D3-induced differentiation of HL-60 cells to monocytes/macrophages is occurring via receptor-mediated events.     

Identification of the differentiation-associated p93 tyrosine protein kinase of HL-60 leukemia cells as the product of the human c-fes locus and its expression in myelomonocytic cells

A differentiation-associated 93-kDa tyrosine kinase (p93) was purified previously from the human promyelocytic leukemia cell line HL-60. The present study conclusively identifies p93 as the c-fes proto-oncogene product and shows that expression of p93c-fes and its associated tyrosine kinase activity are marked in mature granulocytes, monocytes, and human myeloid leukemia cell lines. Antisera to peptides obtained by expression of c-fes cDNA fragments in Escherichia coli reacted strongly with p93 purified from HL-60 cells. Western blots using one of these antisera demonstrated high levels of p93c-fes protein in normal human granulocytes and monocytes, as well as the cell lines KG-1, THP-1, HEL, and U-937, all of which can be induced to differentiate along the myelomonocytic pathway. Conversely, in cell lines resistant to myeloid differentiation, p93c-fes expression was either very low or absent. Expression of immunoreactive p93c-fes in these cell lines showed a strong positive correlation with p93c-fes tyrosine kinase activity, which was measured in cell extracts using a nondenaturing gel assay. Finally, the expression of p93c-fes, its tyrosine kinase activity, and the binding of 125I-granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) were all coordinately increased in HL-60 cells treated with the granulocytic differentiation inducer dimethyl sulfoxide, while all three parameters were low in untreated or differentiation-resistant HL-60 cells. These results suggest that expression of p93c-fes tyrosine kinase activity may be an essential component of myeloid differentiation and responsiveness to granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor.     

A protein complex expressed during terminal differentiation of monomyelocytic cells is an inhibitor of cell growth

A protein complex (PC) composed of the MRP8 and MRP14 proteins has previously been shown to be a specific inhibitor of casein kinase I and II. This PC is expressed during the late stages of terminal differentiation induced in human promyelocytic HL-60 leukemia cells by 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and in human monocytic THP-1 leukemia cells by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate. This expression is associated with terminal cell differentiation because incubation of HL-60 cells with an agent or condition that causes suppression of growth but not induction of differentiation does not result in expression of the PC. At concentrations of 5-15 nM, the purified PC inhibited the growth of HL-60 cells and THP-1 cells, as well as other cell types belonging to different cell lineages. This growth inhibition was preceded by a reduction in [32P]phosphate incorporation and, at the higher PC concentrations, was associated with a reduction in [3H]thymidine, [3H]uridine, and [32S]methionine incorporation. The specific expression pattern and growth-inhibitory character of the PC suggests that the complex may have a role in suppressing cell growth during monomyelocytic terminal differentiation induced by specific chemical stimuli and during physiological and pathological events associated with monomyelocytic cell functions.     

Biosynthesis of glycosphingolipids by human myeloid leukemia cells

We have performed comparative studies of the neutral glycosphingolipids synthesized by three human myeloid leukemia cell lines, K562, KG1, and HL-60, which were metabolically labeled with [14C]galactose, to evaluate changes in neutral glycosphingolipid synthesis with myeloid cell differentiation. Individual neutral glycosphingolipids containing one to four sugars were purified by a combination of the following methods: diethylaminoethyl-Sephadex column chromatography, acetylation-Florisil column chromatography, and high-performance liquid chromatography using an Iatrobead column. Compounds with one sugar were analyzed by thin-layer chromatography on borate plates. This analysis showed that HL-60 cells synthesize only glucosylceramide, whereas K562 and KG1 cells synthesize predominately glucosylceramide, but also a small amount of galactosylceramide. Compounds with two to four sugars were characterized by treatment with exo- and endoglycosidases. The results showed that K562 and KG1 cells are similar to cells from patients with acute leukemia in expressing two series (globo and neolacto) of natural glycosphingolipids, whereas the HL-60 cells are similar to mature human myeloid cells in expressing only one series (neolacto). Therefore, human myeloid leukemia cells blocked at different stages of differentiation vary in their ability to synthesize neutral glycosphingolipids.     

Interferon α selectively affects expression of the human myeloid cell nuclear differentiation antigen in late stage cells in the monocytic but not the granulocytic lineage

The human myeloid cell nuclear differentiation antigen (MNDA) is expressed constitutively in cells of the myeloid lineage, appearing in myeloblast cells in some cases of acute myeloid leukemia and consistently being detected in promyelocyte stage cells as well as in all later stage cells including peripheral blood monocytes and granulocytes. The human myeloid leukemia cell lines, HL-60, U937, and THP-1, express similar levels of immunochemically detectable MNDA. Although, the level of MNDA mRNA in primary monocytes is very low it was up-regulated at 6 h following the addition of interferon α. The effect of interferon α on the MNDA mRNA is also observed in the cell lines HL-60, U937, and THP-1. The MNDA mRNA level in primary granulocytes was unaffected by addition of interferon α and other agents including interferon γ, endotoxin, poly (I) · poly (C), and FMLP. The MNDA mRNA level in the myeloid cell lines was also unaffected by the latter four agents. Induction of differentiation in the myeloid cell lines with phorbol ester induces monocyte differentiation which was accompanied by a decrease in MNDA mRNA level. This reduced level of mRNA could then be elevated with subsequent interferon α treatment. The effects of phorbol ester on MNDA mRNA appeared to be associated with induced differentiation since inhibiting cell proliferation did not alter the level of MNDA mRNA and cell cycle variation in MNDA mRNA levels were not observed. The ability of interferon α to up-regulate MNDA mRNA in phorbol ester treated myeloid cell lines is consistent with the observations made in primary monocytes. Granulocyte differentiation induced by retinoic acid treatment of HL-60 cells did not alter the MNDA mRNA level which was also unchanged following subsequent treatment with interferon α. The lack of interferon α effects on retinoic acid treated HL-60 cells is consistent with its inability to influence MNDA mRNA level in primary granulocytes.     

Development of receptors for leukotriene B4 on HL-60 cells induced to differentiate by 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3

The incubation of HL-60 human promyelocytic leukemia cells for 7 days with 100 nM 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3] induced differentiation into monocyte-like cells, as assessed by morphologic and biochemical characteristics. Stereospecific receptors for leukotriene B4 (LTB4) developed on the surface of the HL-60 cell-derived monocytes that had the capacity to transduce LTB4 stimulation of a transient increase in the cytosolic concentration of calcium ([Ca+2]in). HL-60 cell-derived monocytes, but not undifferentiated HL-60 cells, expressed a high affinity subset of 6400 +/- 3700 receptors per cell with a dissociation constant (Kd) of 2.3 +/- 1 nM (mean +/- SD, n = 3) and a low affinity subset of approximately 2.2 X 10(6) receptors per cell with an apparent Kd of 680 +/- 410 nM. Derivatives of LTB4 inhibited the binding of [3H]LTB4 to HL-60 cell-derived monocytes with a rank order of potency of LTB4 greater than 20-OH-LTB4 greater than 3-aminopropyl amide-LTB4, which is similar to the order for LTB4 receptors of human blood PMNL. In contrast, leukotrienes C4 and D4 and formyl-methionyl chemotactic peptides did not inhibit the binding of [3H] LTB4, which demonstrates the specificity of these receptors for isomers of 5,12-dihydroxy-eicosatetraenoic acid. LTB4 stimulated an increase in [Ca+2]in in HL-60 cell-derived monocytes which reached 50% of the maximal level at an LTB4 concentration of 0.5 nM (EC50). Preincubation of HL-60 cell-derived monocytes with 10 nM LTB4 resulted in a selective loss of high affinity receptors, as assessed by binding of [3H]LTB4, and a 200-fold increase in the EC50 for stimulation by LTB4 of increases in [Ca+2]in, without alterations in either the low affinity receptors for LTB4 or the responsiveness of [Ca+2]in to formyl-methionyl chemotactic peptides. HL-60 cells that are induced to differentiate into monocytes thus develop stereospecific receptors for LTB4 with binding and transductional characteristics similar to those of human blood PMNL.     

The role of interferon-gamma in induction of differentiation of human myeloid leukemia cell lines, ML-1 and HL-60

Highly purified natural interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) induced differentiation having characteristics that are associated with the human promyelocytic leukemia cell line, HL-60. Monoclonal antibody to INF-gamma neutralized its activity. However, the natural IFN-gamma had almost no inducing activity in ML-1, a human myeloblastic leukemia cell line. Similar results were obtained using recombinant IFN-gamma. Mitogen stimulated human leukocyte conditioned medium (LCM) induced differentiation of both ML-1 and HL-60 cells. After treatment of LCM with monoclonal antibody to IFN-gamma, LCM activity was reduced more than 50% in ML-1 cells, and 80% in HL-60 cells. Even if IFN-gamma was eliminated from LCM by affinity chromatography, the LCM induced differentiation of ML-1 and HL-60 cells, but IFN-gamma markedly enhanced the ML-1 cell differentiation induced by IFN-gamma free LCM. The results suggest that leukocytes produce differentiation inducing factor(s) other than IFN-gamma, and that IFN-gamma is both an inducer and an enhancer of induction of human myelogenous leukemia cells.     

Human immunodeficiency virus infection in cells of myeloid-monocytic lineage

We established persistent infection with a strain of human immunodeficiency virus type 1, HTLV-IIIB, in a promyelomonocytic cell line, ML-1 (CD4 antigen nearly negative and CD4 mRNA negative), and a promonocytic cell line, THP-1 (CD4 antigen positive). Different reaction of giant cell formation was found after co-cultivation of infected and uninfected cells of ML-1, HL-60, THP-1 and U-937 cell lines with uninfected and infected MOLT4 (a T-lymphoma cell line).     

K562 leukemia cells transfected with the human c-fes gene acquire the ability to undergo myeloid differentiation

Expression of the proto-oncogene p93c-fes and its associated tyrosine kinase activity is marked in mature granulocytes, monocytes, differentiated HL-60 leukemia cells, and leukemia cell lines KG-1, THP-1, HEL, and U-937, which can be induced to differentiate along the granulocyte/monocyte pathway. Conversely, p93-c-fes expression is absent in the K562 cell line, which is resistant to myeloid differentiation. Upon transfection and clonal selection of K562 cells using a mammalian expression vector containing the 13-kilobase pair c-fes gene, c-fes mRNA was transcribed and p93-c-fes tyrosine activity kinase was expressed. Clones expressing c-fes underwent myeloid differentiation as assessed by the appearance of phagocytic activity, Fc receptors, nitro blue tetrazolium reduction, Mac-1 immunofluorescence, and lysozyme production. These results indicate that the expression of the c-fes protooncogene and its associated tyrosine kinase activity plays a major role in the initiation of myeloid differentiation.     

Identification of leukemia cell-derived inhibitory activity (LIA) in conditioned media from human myeloid leukemic cell line ML-2

Conditioned media from the human myeloid leukemic cell line ML-2 contain a factor that inhibits the entry of normal CFU-GM into S phase of mitotic cycle as measured by the 3H-TdR suicide technique. This factor was detected in conditioned media prepared by incubating 5 X 10(6) ML-2 cells/ml or 1 X 10(6) ML-2 cells/ml in serum-free RPMI for 5 or 24 hours respectively, and was isolated by ultrafiltration through an XM 300 Diaflo membrane followed by chromatography on Sepharose 6 B. Ferritin, prepared from human placenta, had the same inhibitory effect on CFU-GM. Antibodies against human placental ferritin completely inactivated the inhibitory effect of both human placental ferritin and the factor released from ML-2 cells. The inhibitory activity produced by the cell-line ML-2 was considered as LIA (leukemia cell-derived inhibitory activity) earlier found in HL-60 cell line and AML and CML cells.     

Development of specific functionally active receptors for platelet-activating factor in HL-60 cells following granulocytic differentiation

A human promyelocytic leukemia cell line (undifferentiated HL-60 cells) as well as a granulocyte form of HL-60 cells induced in vitro by exposure to dimethyl sulfoxide were examined for binding, metabolism, and biological responses to platelet-activating factor (PAF). Undifferentiated and differentiated HL-60 cells each exhibit a high capacity to incorporate and metabolize [3H]PAF at 37 degrees C; however, the amount of [3H]PAF that is assimilated by both cell populations is greatly reduced and its metabolism abolished at less than or equal to 4 degrees C. At 0 degrees C HL-60 granulocytes bind more [3H]PAF than their undifferentiated counterparts. Binding to differentiated cells reaches equilibrium within 80 min and is saturable, reversible and specific; PAF receptor antagonists WEB 2086, L-659,989, BN 52021, and kadsurenone abolish this specific [3H]PAF binding. In contrast, [3H]PAF uptake by undifferentiated HL-60 cells is neither saturable nor sensitive to specific receptor antagonists. Scatchard analyses reveal 5850 +/- 850 binding sites per differentiated HL-60 cell with a dissociation constant of 0.66 +/- 0.15 nM. In the presence of cytochalasin B, PAF (200 nM) induces degranulation only in differentiated cells and this response also is blocked by PAF receptor antagonists. Our results demonstrate that HL-60 cells develop specific and functionally active PAF receptors only after chemically induced differentiation into granulocytes.     

Characterization of miRNomes in Acute and Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Cell Lines

Myeloid leukemias are highly diverse diseases and have been shown to be associated with microRNA（miRNA） expression aberrations. The present study involved an in-depth miRNome analysis of two human acute myeloid leukemia（AML） cell lines, HL-60 and THP-1, and one human chronic myeloid leukemia（CML） cell line, K562, via massively parallel signature sequencing. mRNA expression profiles of these cell lines that were established previously in our lab facilitated an integrative analysis of miRNA and mRNA expression patterns. miRNA expression profiling followed by differential expression analysis and target prediction suggested numerous miRNA signatures in AML and CML cell lines. Some miRNAs may act as either tumor suppressors or oncomiRs in AML and CML by targeting key genes in AML and CML pathways. Expression patterns of cell type-specific miRNAs could partially reflect the characteristics of K562, HL-60 and THP-1 cell lines, such as actin filament-based processes, responsiveness to stimulus and phagocytic activity. miRNAs may also regulate myeloid differentiation, since they usually suppress differentiation regulators. Our study provides a resource to further investigate the employment of miRNAs in human leukemia subtyping, leukemogenesis and myeloid development. In addition, the distinctive miRNA signatures may be potential candidates for the clinical diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of myeloid leukemias.     

Conversion of alkylacetylglycerol to platelet-activating factor in HL-60 cells and subcellular localization of the mediator

A human promyelocytic leukemia (HL-60) cell line was used to investigate the conversion of 1-alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycerol (alkylacetyl-G) to platelet-activating factor (PAF; 1-alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine) by intact cells and in subcellular fractions in order to examine the fate of PAF synthesized de novo. Lipid extracts obtained from undifferentiated HL-60 cells incubated with [3H]alkylacetyl-G contained 2-4% of the label as [3H]PAF; several related metabolites were also detected. The yield of [3H]PAF could be dramatically increased by pretreating the cells with either oleic acid, an activator of CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase, or phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, an inhibitor of PAF acetylhydrolase. These results, together with a kinetic study of [3H]alkylacetyl-G metabolism, indicate the sequential participation of a cholinephosphotransferase for the conversion of [3H]-alkylacetyl-G to PAF and acetylhydrolase and transacylase activities in the remodeling pathway that metabolize the newly formed [3H]PAF to 1-[3H]alkyl-2-acyl(long chain)-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine. The dithiothreitol-insensitive cholinephosphotransferase activity capable of converting alkylacetyl-G to PAF was localized in subcellular fractions that contain CDP-choline:1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycerol cholinephosphotransferase (dithiothreitol-sensitive), as well as marker enzyme activities for the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi membranes. Subcellular localization analyses also indicated that the majority of newly formed [3H]PAF and a large portion of its deacetylated metabolite were associated with the plasma membrane-containing fractions, whereas most of the 1-[3H]alkyl-2-acyl(long chain)-sn-glycero-3- phosphocholine was present in the intracellular organelles. Incubations of HL-60 cells with exogenous [3H]PAF produced a similar subcellular distribution of metabolites. Very little (less than 10%) of the [3H]PAF produced from [3H]alkylacetyl-G was released from intact cells under a variety of incubation conditions but 50% of the de novo-derived mediator was recovered in the medium of cells that were permeabilized with saponin. Our results indicate that PAF is rapidly translocated from its intracellular site of enzymatic synthesis to the plasma membrane where it is apparently sequestered in a pool that is not accessible to extracellular acceptors in contact with intact cells.     

Properties of a nuclear protein marker of human myeloid cell differentiation

The Mr 55,000 nuclear antigen present in the human promyelocytic cell line HL-60 is a basic protein that is extracted from nuclei or chromatin by 0.35 M NaCl. The antigen is confined to the nucleus of the interphase HL-60 cell as judged by immunocytochemical localization but disperses throughout the cell during mitosis. The antigen was not detected in leukemic cell lines with blast cell properties or in cell lines representing other lineages. Additional cell lines (ML-1, ML-2, and U937) with myeloid cell characteristics similar to those of the HL-60 cells, which also differentiate in vitro, express the antigen. The presence of antigen in normal human myeloid cells in peripheral blood and bone marrow is consistent with its proposed role in nuclear events associated with normal human myeloid cell differentiation.     

Ganglioside GM3 as a modulator of differentiation of mouse myeloid leukemia cells (M1-T22)

The effects of exogenously added glycosphingolipids on the differentiation of mouse myeloid leukemia cells (M1-T22) have been studied. Eight gangliosides and ten neutral glycosphingolipids were tested in terms of their induction of phagocytic activities on the leukemia cells. N-Acetyl-neuraminosyllactosylceramide (NAc-GM3) was the most effective glycolipid for inducing the activity. By the addition of 25 micrograms/ml of NAc-GM3, about 70 percent of the cells acquired phagocytic activity within 20 h incubation. GM1a showed about half the activity of the GM3. In the case of the neutral glycosphingolipids, lactosylceramide (CDH) and globotriaosylceramide (CTH) showed significant effects on the induction of phagocytic activity. Preincubation of the cells with the NAc-GM3 enhanced the effect of dexamethasone as a differentiation inducer on M1-T22 cells. When a human promyelocytic leukemia cell line, HL-60, was preincubated with the NAc-GM3 ganglioside, induction of the phagocytic activity, together with inhibition of the cell growth by phorbol ester (TPA), were markedly enhanced. From these observations, the NAc-GM3 ganglioside seems to act as a modulator of differentiation of mouse myeloid leukemia cells and also of HL-60 cells.     

The expression of receptors for IgA on human monocytes and calcitriol-treated HL-60 cells

In this study, we investigated the expression of IgA Fc receptors (FcR alpha) by human myeloid cells. By using a sensitive cytofluorometric IgA binding assay, we found that approximately 85% of peripheral blood monocytes bound IgA in an isotype-specific fashion. The HL-60 human promyelocytic leukemia cell line failed to express FcR alpha; however, treatment of HL-60 cells with the differentiating agent calcitriol induced the expression of FcR alpha on greater than 90% of these cells. Monocytes and calcitriol-treated HL-60 cells were capable of ingesting IgA-coated erythrocyte targets, suggesting that phagocytosis could be mediated through FcR alpha. The induced HL-60 cell system represents a useful model for further studies on FcR alpha expression and function.     

Changes in membrane gangliosides: differentiation of human and murine monocytic cells

Membrane ganglioside changes in murine peritoneal macrophages and the human promyelocytic leukemia cell line HL-60 have been assessed by two-dimensional thin-layer chromatography. C3H/HeJ mice respond to protein-containing endotoxin but are hyporesponsive to protein-free endotoxin preparations. Compared to unstimulated resident cells, protein-containing endotoxin produced an alteration in the C3H/HeJ macrophage ganglioside pattern whereas protein-free endotoxin did not. In comparison, differentiation of HL-60 cells to a neutrophil-like cell by dimethylsulfoxide gave a ganglioside pattern similar to unstimulated HL-60 cells. However, differentiation of HL-60 cells by phorbol myristate acetate to macrophage-like cells results in a large increase in the monosialoganglioside GM3. The evidence presented indicates that discrete ganglioside changes occur in murine monocytes and HL-60 cells upon induction to cells with increased macrophage functions.     

Characterization of the binding of S-adenosyl-L-methionine to plasma membranes of HL-60 promyelocytic leukemia cells

S-Adenosyl-L-methionine (AdoMet) has been found to bind specifically to the plasma membrane of promyelocytic leukemia cells, HL-60. The Kd for AdoMet is 4.2.10(-6) M and the Bmax is 4.0.10(-12) mol/10(7) HL-60 cells. The binding is not related to the adenosine receptor since neither adenosine, ADP, nor ATP affect the ligand-receptor reaction. When HL-60 cells were incubated with physiological concentrations of [methyl-3H]AdoMet (20 microM) at 36 degrees C, AdoMet did not equilibrate with the intracellular pool, nor were any [3H]methyl groups incorporated into nucleic acids or proteins. In contrast, significant amounts of [3H]methyl groups were incorporated into membrane phospholipids. When cells were incubated with 20 microM [methyl-3H]AdoMet, [3H]methyl groups were transferred to phosphatidylethanolamine, -monomethylethanolamine, and -dimethylethanolamine yielding phosphatidylcholine. However, the rate of methyl transfer with AdoMet was only 22% of that observed when cells were incubated with a comparable amount of [methyl-3H]methionine. Both the binding of AdoMet and the methylation of phospholipids were inhibited by exogenous S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine. Therefore, the binding may be linked to a phospholipid methyltransferase.