Hydrocortisone inhibits DMSO - induced differentiation of Friend erythroleukemia cells.

Hydrocortisone (10^?6 – 10^?7M) completely inhibited the production of hemoglobin by DMSO- and DMF-treated Friend erythroleukemia cells (FLC) in vitro without affecting either cell replication or general protein synthesis. Only 11, 17-dihydroxycorticosteroids were effective in inhibiting this expression of differentiation. Addition of hydrocortisone as late as 48 hours after the addition of DMSO (at a time at which cells were committed to differentiation) still resulted in significant inhibition of hemoglobin synthesis. Although the mechanism of this action is unknown, since it was not reversed by the addition of arachidonic acid nor a number of prostaglandins, it appears to be unrelated to the ability of corticosteroids to inhibit endogenous prostaglandin synthesis.