The influence of differentiation-inducing agents on plasma membrane surface characteristics of THP-1 cells

Undifferentiated THP-1 cells from Cell Culture Collection of the Institute of Cytology, RAS (St. Petersburg), are characterized by weak expression of Toll-like receptor-4 (TLR4) on the cell surface (up to 2%) and by almost undetectable expression of CD14 and CD11b receptors. Differentiation agent phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate independently of its concentration (2 × 10⁻⁷ M or 10⁻⁸ M) and incubation time (24 or 48 h) did not initiate CD11b surface expression and did not change the parameter S_app (0.605 ± 0.005 at 37°C) reflecting the cell membrane viscosity. Differentiation of THP-1 cells induced by another differentiation agent, 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃, caused expression of CD14 (up to 70–80%) and CD11b (up to 15–20%) receptors, again without changes in plasma membrane viscosity. The rate constants of the reduction of 5- and 16-doxyl-stearic acids by THP-1 cells were in the range of 6–8 × 10⁻³ s⁻¹ at 37°C. During cell differentiation significant changes in cell electrophoretic mobility (EM, μm s⁻¹ V⁻¹ cm) were observed. Mean value of EM for undifferentiated THP-1 cells was −1.332 ± 0.011, whereas for phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate- and 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃-treated cells it was −1.432 ± 0.030 and −1.212 ± 0.016, respectively.