INTERFERON-ALPHA AND INTERFERON-GAMMA PROMOTE MYELOID DIFFERENTIATION OF HL-60, A HUMAN ACUTE PROMYELOCYTIC LEUKEMIA-CELL LINE

Google Scholar
  • 1 January 1984
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 3  (6) , 653-662
Abstract
Two different preparations of ultrapurified interferon-.alpha. (IFN-.alpha.) (lymphoblastoid and peripheral blood leukocyte) and 1 of IFN-.gamma. were tested for their ability to induce terminal differentiation and alter cell growth in 3 human leukemia cell lines of different hematological origin (HL-60, K562, U937). Cell lines were cultured for 9 days in the presence of 500 U/ml of either IFN-.alpha. or IFN-.gamma.. Cell counts and stained differentials were made on days 3, 6 and 9 to assess the effects of IFN. A marked heterogeneity of response was found, not only among cell lines, but among the IFN tested. The most striking morphological changes were noted in the HL-60 acute promyelocytic leukemia cell line. All 3 IFN tested induced significant myeloid maturation, with increased numbers of terminally differentiated myelocytes and metamyelocytes seen as early as day 3 of culture. The feasibility of using IFN as an adjunctive or alternative therapy for the treatment of some types of leukemias is discussed.