EFFECTS OF RETINOIDS ON INDUCTION OF DIFFERENTIATION OF CULTURED MOUSE MYELOID-LEUKEMIA CELLS

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 40  (3) , 914-919
Abstract
Retinoic acid, retinol, retinyl acetate and retinal induced activities of lysosomal enzymes such as lysozyme, acid protease and acid phosphatase in mouse myeloid leukemia cells (M1), while the pyridyl analog of retinoic acid had no effect. Retinoic acid was the most potent inducer of lysosomal enzyme activities. The induction of lysozyme activity by retinoic acid was inhibited by treatment with puromycin. The retinoids did not induce phagocytic and locomotive activities or morphological changes in M1 cells, and they inhibited the induction of these differentiation-associated properties by various inducers without inhibiting cell growth. Retinoic acid was the most potent inhibitor of induction of these differentiation-associated properties. The inhibitory effect of retinoic acid was reversible. Distinct mechanisms apparently exist for control of induction of lysosomal enzyme activities and of other differentiation-associated properties of M1 cells, such as phagocytosis, morphological changes and migration. [The possible usefulness of retinoids as chemotherapeutics for cancer is discussed.].