Lineage non-specific down regulation of P210bcr/abl in the CML cell line, KU-812-F, during differentiation

CML cell line, KU-812-F, originally established from a patient with Philadelphia-chromosome-positive chronic myelocytic leukemia has maintained the ability to differentiate into both granuloid (basophilic) and erythroid lineages. The expression of P210bcr/abl in KU-812-F cells during differentiation was studied by immunoblotting and immunoprecipitation. Immunoblotting with anti-phosphotyrosine sera revealed the down-regulation of P210bcr/abl in both granuloid and erythroid lineages. Immunoprecipitation with anti-abl antibodies of 35S-methionine-labelled cells revealed a reduced rate of synthesis of P210bcr/abl protein. Cytotoxic agents that caused growth inhibition of the cells did not alter the expression of P210bcr/abl. These results indicate that the down regulation of P210bcr/abl protein is a lineage non-specific event accompanied by differentiation.