1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 induces differentiation of human promyelocytic leukemia cells (HL-60) into monocyte-macrophages, but not into granulocytes.

The differentiating action of 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1 alpha, 25-(OH)2D3] in hematopoietic cells was examined in 3 tumor cell lines. 1 alpha,25-(OH)2D3 induced common differentiation-associated properties in macrophages and granulocytes similarly in mouse myeloblastic leukemia cells (M1), human promyelocytic leukemia cells (HL-60) and human histiocytic monoblast-like lymphoma cells (U937). 1 alpha,25(OH)2D3 markedly induced alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase activity, a typical marker of monocyte-macrophages, in M1 and HL-60 cells. In HL-60 and U937 cells, the vitamin also induced binding of the monoclonal antibody MAS 072, specific for monocyte-macrophages, but not of MAS 067, specific for granulocytes. These results clearly indicate that 1 alpha, 25(OH)2D3 induces differentiation of all cell lines examined preferentially along the monocyte-macrophage pathway.