Characteristic incorporation of ganglioside GM3, which induces monocytic differentiation in human myelogenous leukemia HL-60 cells

Using tritiated gangliosides ( 3H]-GM3 and 3H]-GM1), characteristic incorporation of exogenous GM3 to HL-60 cells was demonstrated in association with differentiation induction. 3H]-GM3 was bound 4-5 times more than 3H]-GM1 was. Scatchard analysis revealed high and low affinity patterns of binding to the cells. The concentration of GM3 that caused growth inhibition and cell differentiation corresponded well to that which showed the bi-phasic binding pattern. It was strongly suggested that GM3, which induces monocytic differentiation, was characteristically bound and incorporated to the cells around the concentration which caused growth inhibition and cell differentiation.