Inducers of leukemic cell differentiation cause down-regulation of RB gene expression.

Expression of the retinoblastoma (RB) tumor suppressor gene during cell differentiation induced by dimethyl sulfoxide or sodium butyrate was studied in HL-60 human promyelocytic leukemia cells. As cells progressed through the cell cycle, the amount of RB protein per cell increased with homeostasis maintained, so that the amount of RB protein relative to the total cell mass remained almost constant. Dimethyl sulfoxide was used to induce these promyelocytic leukemia cells to undergo terminal differentiation into mature myeloid cells. There was an early reduction in the RB protein expressed per cell. The reduction in expression was similar for cells in all cell cycle phases. There was also progressively reduced expression at later times as cells terminally differentiated. This was compared to the case in which sodium butyrate was used to induce the differentiation of HL-60 cells into mature monocytic cells. An early reduction in RB protein expression per cell also occurred. It occurred for cells in all cell cycle phases as well. Thus, the induced differentiation of HL-60 cells along either the myeloid or the monocytic differentiation lineage involves an early reduction in RB expression, which is common to both pathways. The reduction anteceded proliferative arrest or differentiation. In both cases, the final, resulting G0-differentiated cells had less RB protein per cell than the proliferating, immature, leukemic precursor cells.     

Relationships between the cell cycle and the expression of c-myc and transferrin receptor genes during induced myeloid differentiation

We examined the relationship of cellular oncogene c-myc and transferrin receptor (TfR) gene expression to cell proliferation and cell cycle progression during myeloid differentiation in the HL-60 myeloid leukemia cell line. In order to determine levels of mRNA for these genes in HL-60 cells induced to differentiate along the myeloid pathway, RNA was isolated from HL-60 cells incubated with retinoic acid for 24 h and Northern blots were probed with labeled cDNAs for c-myc and TfR. c-myc mRNA decreased within 3 h of retinoic acid addition, and TfR mRNA decreased after 9 h; both mRNAs continued to decrease over 24 h. RNA was also isolated from HL-60 cells separated by centrifugal elutriation into cell cycle phases. TfR and c-myc cDNA probes hybridized equally to RNA from uninduced cells in all phases of the cell cycle. However, after 24 h incubation with the differentiation inducer retinoic acid, TfR mRNA was expressed substantially less in the G1 stage, whereas c-myc mRNA was still expressed equally in all cell cycle phases. These data indicate that, although TfR and c-myc expression are both associated with cell proliferation in the HL-60 line, TfR is down-regulated specifically in G1 upon induction of terminal differentiation whereas c-myc expression is disassociated from cell cycle control in these cells.     

Chlamydia trachomatis (L2 serovar) can be bound, ingested and destroyed by differentiated but not by undifferentiated human promyelocyte cell line HL-60

As a model system for analysing interactions between chlamydiae and myeloid cells and their precursors, we have studied binding, ingestion and destruction of Chlamydia trachomatis (L2 serovar) by the human promyelocytic cell line HL-60. HL-60 cells were induced by phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) and dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) to differentiate along either the macrophage or the granulocyte pathway, respectively. Using an immunofluorescence assay and electron microscopy, we have shown that induced (differentiated) HL-60 cells, but not uninduced (undifferentiated) HL-60 or other cell lines treated with PMA or DMSO, exhibit increased binding, ingestion and elimination of C. trachomatis; these activities are associated with specific histochemical and antigenic markers of myeloid differentiation. These results suggest that myeloid cells acquire the ability to interact with and kill chlamydiae during cell development.     

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.     

Retinol bound to physiological carrier molecules regulates growth and differentiation of myeloid leukemic cells

We have tested effects of retinol bound to its physiological carrier molecules, i.e. low density lipoprotein chylomicron remnants, and retinol binding protein (RBP) on differentiation and proliferation of myeloid leukemic cells in concentrations that can be obtained in vivo. Data presented in this study show that physiological concentrations of retinyl ester in chylomicron remnants induce differentiation and inhibit proliferation of the cell line HL-60 and promyelocytic leukemic cells in primary culture. Retinyl ester in low density lipoprotein showed no effect either on cell differentiation or proliferation of any of the myeloid cells tested. Retinol bound to RBP induced differentiation of HL-60 cells only in concentrations above those that can be found in vivo. However, cell proliferation was reduced both in HL-60 cells and in primary culture of leukemic cells using physiological concentrations of holo-RBP. These results suggest that retinyl ester in chylomicron remnants is the most effective vehicle for transport of retinol into leukemic cells in vivo.     

Expression of WASP and Scar1/WAVE1 actin-associated proteins is differentially modulated during differentiation of HL-60 cells

The Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome (WAS) is a disease associated with mutations in the WAS gene and characterised by developmental defects in haematopoietic cells such as myeloid cells. The Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome protein (WASP)-family includes Scar1 and WASP, which are key regulators of actin reorganization in motile cells. To understand the roles of Scar1 and WASP in myeloid cells and their cytoskeletal control in haematopoietic tissues, we have explored their expression during differentiation of the promyeloid cell line HL-60. Undifferentiated HL-60 cells expressed Scar1 and WASP, and differentiation to neutrophils, induced by retinoic acid or non-retinoid agent treatments, led to a decrease in the level of expression of Scar1, whereas WASP expression was unaffected. Differentiation to monocytes/macrophages, induced by phorbol ester treatment, resulted in a decreased expression of both proteins in the adherent mature cells. Vitamin D(3) treatment or cytochalasin D in combination with PMA treatment did not affect WASP expression suggesting that adhesion and cytoskeletal integrity were both essential to regulate WASP expression. Scar1 expression was regulated by differentiation, adhesion, and cytoskeletal integrity. Recently, WASP was found to colocalize with actin in the podosomes. In contrast, we show here that Scar1 did not localize with the podosomes in mature monocytes/macrophages. These observations show for the first time that modulation of Scar1 and WASP expression is a component of the differentiation program of myeloid precursors and indicate that WASP and Scar1 have different roles in mature myeloid cells.     

Regulated expression of the Mac-1, LFA-1, p150,95 glycoprotein family during leukocyte differentiation

The regulation of Mac-1, LFA-1, and p150,95 expression during leukocyte differentiation was examined. LFA-1 was present on almost all cell types studied. Both Mac-1 and p150,95 were present on the more mature cells of the myelomonocytic series, but only p150,95 was detected on some B cell lines and cloned cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) stimulation of B chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells dramatically increased p150,95 expression. The resultant Mac-1, LFA-1, p150,95 phenotype resembled hairy cell leukemia, a B cell plasmacytoid leukemia. The promonocytic cell line U937 and the promyeloblastic cell line HL-60 expressed only LFA-1. Monocytic differentiation of U937 cells was stimulated by PMA, and induced the concomitant expression of Mac-1 and p150,95, with more p150,95 induced than Mac-1. Granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) stimulation of U937 cells gave similar results. PMA-stimulated monocytic differentiation of the HL-60 cell line also induced expression of both Mac-1 and p150,95. The number of p150,95 molecules on PMA-stimulated U937 and HL-60 cells were 5 X 10(5) and 3 X 10(5), respectively. Retinoic acid stimulated myeloid differentiation of HL-60 cells and induced expression of both Mac-1 and p150,95. These cells acquired a Mac-1, LFA-1, p150,95 profile that resembled that of granulocytes, with more Mac-1 than p150,95 induced. GM-CSF stimulation of HL-60 cells induced a similar Mac-1 and p150,95 phenotype. The contributions of Mac-1, LFA-1, and p150,95 to aggregation of PMA-differentiated U937 cells were assessed. Monoclonal antibodies to the beta subunit and the LFA-1 alpha subunit, but not those to p150,95 or Mac-1 alpha subunit, inhibited this homotypic adherence.     

Membrane protein hMYADM preferentially expressed in myeloid cells is up-regulated during differentiation of stem cells and myeloid leukemia cells

We report here the molecular cloning and characterization of a novel human gene (hMYADM) derived from a human bone marrow stromal cell (BMSC) cDNA library, which shares high homology with mouse myeloid-associated differentiation marker (MYADM). hMYADM is also closely related to many other eukaryotic proteins, which together form a novel and highly conserved MYADM-like family. hMYADM with 322-residue protein contains eight putative transmembrane segments and confocal microscopic analysis confirmed its membrane localization by using anti-hMYADM monoclonal antibody. hMYADM mRNA was selectively expressed in human monocytes, dendritic cells, promyeloid or monocytic leukemia cell lines, but not in CD4+, CD8+, CD19+ cells, nor in T cell leukemia or lymphocytic leukemia cell lines. hMYADM expression was also found in normal human bone marrow enriched for CD34+ stem cells, and the expression was up-regulated when these cells were induced to differentiate toward myeloid cells. The mRNA expression level of hMYADM significantly increased in acute promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 and chronic myelogenous leukemia K562 cell line after phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)-induced differentiation. Our study suggests that hMYADM is selectively expressed in myeloid cells, and involved in the myeloid differentiation process, indicating that hMYADM may be one useful membrane marker to monitor stem cell differentiation or myeloid leukemia differentiation.     

Altered expression profiles of microRNAs during TPA-induced differentiation of HL-60 cells

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are highly conserved small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression through translational repression by base-pairing with partially complementary mRNAs. The expression of a set of miRNAs is known to be regulated developmentally and spatially, and is involved in differentiation or cell proliferation in several organisms. However, the expression profiles of human miRNAs during cell differentiation remain largely unknown. In an effort to expand our knowledge of human miRNAs, we investigated miRNAs during 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced differentiation of human leukemia cells (HL-60) into monocyte/macrophage-like cells. Several hundred RNAs ranging from 18 to 26 nucleotides were isolated from HL-60 cells with or without TPA-induction, and subsequently characterized by sequencing, database searching, and expression profiling. By removing non-miRNA sequences, we found three novel and 38 known miRNAs expressed in HL-60 cells. These miRNAs could be further classified into subsets of miRNAs that responded differently following TPA induction, either being up-regulated or down-regulated, suggesting the importance of regulated gene expression via miRNAs in the differentiation of HL-60 cells.     

Retinoic acid-induced CD38 expression in HL-60 myeloblastic leukemia cells regulates cell differentiation or viability depending on expression levels

Retinoic acid-induced expression of the CD38 ectoenzyme receptor in HL-60 human myeloblastic leukemia cells is regulated by RARalpha and RXR, and enhanced or prevented cell differentiation depending on the level of expression per cell. RARalpha activation caused CD38 expression, as did RXR activation but not as effectively. Inhibition of MAPK signaling through MEK inhibition diminished the induced expression by both RARs and RXRs. Expression of CD38 enhanced retinoic acid-induced myeloid differentiation and G0 cell cycle arrest, but at higher expression levels, induced differentiation was blocked and retinoic acid induced a loss of cell viability instead. In the case of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, induced monocytic differentiation was also enhanced by CD38 and not enhanced by higher expression levels, but without induced loss of viability. Expression levels of CD38 thus regulated the cellular response to retinoic acid, either propelling cell differentiation or loss of viability. The cellular effects of CD38 thus depend on its expression level.     

Interferon-inducible gene expression in HL-60 cells: effects of the state of differentiation.

The promyelocytic leukemia line HL-60 can be terminally differentiated in vitro to either monocyte/macrophages or granulocytes. We used this cell line to test whether the state of differentiation of a cell changes its response to interferon (IFN). The characteristics of expression of several IFN-alpha- and IFN-gamma-inducible genes in undifferentiated and differentiated HL-60 cells were examined. p67, an IFN-gamma-inducible protein, was induced similarly in three cell types, whereas another IFN-gamma-inducible protein, p56, was induced strongly only in undifferentiated cells. In contrast, two isozymes of 2,5(A)-synthetase were induced better in differentiated cells in response to either IFN. Several IFN-alpha-inducible mRNAs, e.g., 561, 6-16, 1-8, and 2A, were induced much more strongly in granulocytes than in macrophages or in undifferentiated cells. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays using the IFN-stimulated response element of gene 561 and nuclear extracts of IFN-alpha-treated cells revealed the appearance of one complex and the disappearance of another one, concomitant with differentiation of the cells to granulocytes. These observations suggest that expression of IFN-inducible genes in HL-60 cells is regulated by trans-acting factors whose activity changes with the state of differentiation of the cells. Our study may have implications in the optimal clinical use of IFNs. Inducing cellular differentiation may augment the efficacy of IFNs as antitumor agents.     

Comparison of the gene expression profiles of monocytic versus granulocytic lineages of HL-60 leukemia cell differentiation by DNA microarray analysis

It is now recognized that precise patterns of differentially expressed genes ultimately direct a particular cell toward a given lineage. In this study, we compared the expression profiles of cancer-related genes by cDNA microarray analysis during the differentiation of human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells into either monocytes or granulocytes. RNA was isolated at times 0, 6, 12, 24, 36, 48, and 72 h following stimulation of differentiation with all-trans retinoic acid (all-trans RA) or 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) [1,25-(OH)(2)D(3)], and hybridized to the microarray gene chips containing 872 genes related to cell-cycles, oncogenes and leukemias. Several genes were commonly or differentially regulated during cell differentiation into either lineage, as demonstrated by both hierarchical and self-organizing map clustering analysis. At 72 h the expression levels of 45 genes were commonly up- or down-regulated at least a twofold in both lineages. Most importantly, 32 genes including alpha-L-fucosidase gene and adducin gamma subunit gene were up- or down-regulated only in all-trans RA-treated HL-60 cells, while 12 genes including interleukin 1beta and hypoxia-inducible factor 1alpha were up- or down-regulated only in 1,25-(OH)(2)D(3)-treated HL-60 cells. The expression of selected genes was confirmed by Northern blot analysis. As expected, some genes identified have not been examined during HL-60 cell differentiation into either lineage. The identification of genes associated with a specific differentiation lineage may give important insights into functional and phenotypic differences between two lineages of HL-60 cell differentiation.     

Decrease in CuZn-superoxide dismutase mRNA level during differentiation of human monocytic and promyelotic leukemia cells

Change in the level of CuZn-superoxide dismutase (SOD) mRNA was examined using a molecular probe during differentiation of human monocytic leukemia U937 cells or promyelotic leukemia HL-60 cells induced by either 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) or dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO). CuZn-SOD mRNA levels were found to decrease during the course of differentiation, and this response is specific for differentiation, since the treatment of human B cell leukemia cells or normal diploid fibroblasts with TPA failed to have any effect on the level of CuZn-SOD mRNA. The activity of CuZn-SOD in U937 cells also decreased during differentiation, but following that of the CuZn-SOD mRNA level. The expression of the CuZn-SOD gene is thus concluded to diminish during the differentiation of HL-60 and U937 cells.     

Coupled down-regulation of the RB retinoblastoma and c-myc genes antecedes cell differentiation: possible role of RB as a "status quo" gene.

The ability of the well known morphogen, retinoic acid (RA), as well as 1,25-dihydroxy-vitamin D3 (VD), whose receptor complex binds a DNA consensus sequence related to that of the retinoic acid receptor, to regulate expression of the retinoblastoma (RB) tumor suppressor gene in a context of induced cell differentiation was characterized. HL-60 human promyelocytic leukemia cells were induced to undergo myeloid or monocytic terminal cell differentiation by these agents. To investigate the potential coupling between down-regulation of RB and c-myc oncogene expression with cell differentiation, dose response relationships for the induced down-regulation of RB and c-myc expression were compared with each other and with induced cell differentiation. The total amount of RB protein per cell increased as cells advanced through the cell cycle, but the amount of RB protein relative to the total cell mass remained approximately constant. Treated with RA or VD, an early progressive decrease in cellular content of the RB protein occurred in all cell cycle phases well before any cell cycle modulation or phenotypic differentiation. For a differentiation-defective variant HL-60 cell line, failure to differentiate was preceded by a failure to down-regulate cellular levels of the RB protein. In dose response experiments, progressively increasing RA or VD concentrations caused progressively greater reductions in RB as well as c-myc expression with an increasing fraction of cells terminally differentiating. For both RA and VD, the dose response relationships for reductions in RB and c-myc expression were similar suggesting that their down-regulation may be coupled. These observations are consistent with a model whereby RB expression acts as a cellular brake to sustain a developmentally ordained state of differentiation (i.e., preserve the "status quo"); and the down-regulation of heterogeneously distributed RB protein per cell below a threshold is part of the metabolic cascade culminating in terminal cell differentiation. Thus, RB may have a role in this developmental context.     

A new endogenous differentiating factor (myelopeptide-4) for myeloid cells

Along with known lymphokines involved in the regulation of hematopoiesis, a new differentiating factor (myelopeptide-4, MP-4) for myeloid cells was found. The peptide (Phe-Arg-Pro-Arg-Ile-Met-Thr-Pro) originally isolated from the culture medium of porcine bone marrow cell culture was examined for its ability to induce differentiation in two human myeloid leukemia cell lines, HL-60 and K-562. Agents with well-known differentiation-inducing activity, such as phorbol myristate acetate, dimethylsulfoxide and the lymphokines were used as a reference. It has been shown that MP-4 significantly influences the integral characteristics of metabolism, expression of surface antigens and morphology of these cells. It decreased the level of chromosomal DNA synthesis and, in parallel, increased the total protein synthesis in both HL-60 and K-562 cells. MP-4 induced the expression of CD14 monocyte-specific surface antigen and the appearance of mature monocytes/macrophages in HL-60 cell cultures. There was a good correlation of cell metabolic/morphological changes and the CD14 marker expression for HL-60 cells. A similar phenomenon was observed in K-562 cells treated with MP-4 when the levels of hemoglobin synthesis were detected in their cytoplasm. Thus, we consider MP-4 as a new endogenous differentiating factor for myeloid cells.