Sodium caseinate induces differentiation of the multipotential hemopoieticcell line 32D

Aim. To determine the role of sodium caseinate (CasNa) in the modulation of hemopoiesis. Materials and methods. 32D cells, a murine hemopoietic multip otential cell line dependent on interleukin-3 (IL-3) for proliferation and survival, were used. These cells were cultured with 0.5 ng/mL of IL-3, toge ther with different concentrations of CasNa. We evaluated: proliferation (d irect counting under the microscope and use of thymidine H-3), morphologica l differentiation (giemsa staining), cytochemistry (specific staining for m onocytes and granulocytes), and function (presence of Fc receptors and redu ction of nitro-blue tetrazolium). In addition, we determined cell viability through trypan blue exclusion and apoptosis using the TUNEL assay in situ. Results. We showed that CasNa induced a decrease in cell proliferation, wh ich is dose dependent, and is neither a result of a diminished cell viabili ty, nor due to an increase in cell death through apoptosis. In addition, Ca sNa induces cell differentiation towards the monocytic lineage. Conclusions . CasNa has the capacity to differentiate 32D cells towards the monocytic l ineage, and, importantly, has a potent differentiating activity on 32D cell s being able to promote differentiation in a shorter time than the well Kno wn factors G-CSF and GM-CSF.