Induction by synthetic polyribonucleotide poly(I) of differentiation of cultured mouse myeloid leukemic cells

The effects of some synthetic polyribonucleotides on induction of differentiation of mouse myeloid leukemic M1 cells were examined. Poly(I) was found to be a potent inducer; on treatment with 100--200 microgram/ml of poly(I) for 2--4 days, M1 cells differentiated into cells resembling macrophages and granulocytes and developed phagocytosis and locomotive activities, Fc receptors and lysozyme activity. Poly(C) was less effective than poly(I) for induction of phagocytic activity, while the other single-stranded RNAs, poly(U) and poly(A), had no effect. Double-stranded RNAs, such as poly(I) . poly(C) and poly(A) . poly(U), were cytotoxic to M1 cells, and differentiation of the cells could not be detected even at the highest tolerable concentrations of these double-stranded RNAs.