Identification of transferrin as a progression factor for ML-1 human myeloblastic leukemia cell differentiation

We have previously demonstrated (Guan X.-P., Hromchak, R. A., and Bloch, A. (1989) Cancer Commun. 1, 111-115) that ML-1 human myeloblastic leukemia cells differentiate to monocyte/macrophage-like cells by the sequential action of competence and progression factors. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha, transforming growth factor-beta, and the phorbol ester tetradecanoylphorbol acetate were found to induce competence, whereas a 77-kDa glycoprotein (DF77) isolated from mitogen-stimulated human leukocyte-conditioned medium initiated progression. In this communication we show DF77 to be an isoform of human transferrin. Hemin or soluble iron complexes did not induce differentiation progression, suggesting that the participation of transferrin in ML-1 cell differentiation may not be related to its iron-carrying capacity.