EXPRESSION OF CELL-SURFACE ANTIGENS DURING THE DIFFERENTIATION OF HL-60 CELLS INDUCED BY 1,25-DIHYDROXYVITAMIN D-3, RETINOIC ACID AND DMSO

HL-60 cells were induced to differentiate by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D-3 , retinoic acid or DMSO. In order to investigate to which extent this maturation mimics the in vivo monocytic or myeloid differentiation, we compared induced HL-60 cells with peripheral blood monocytes and gran ulocytes by using a panel of mAbs directed against myeloid cell surfac e antigens. Upon exposure to 1,25-(OH)(2)D-3, HL-60 cells acquired a d ifferentiation phenotype close to that of mature monocytes. The change s in myeloid cell surface antigens induced by retinoic acid or DMSO pa ralleled the expression pattern of these molecules in normal granulopo iesis, although maturation was not achieved and partially defective.