HL-60-1E3, a novel phorbol diester-resistant HL-60 cell line

The HL-60 (human promyelocytic leukemia) cell line has proved to be a useful model for the study of the expression of cellular functions and markers associated with hematopoietic differentiation. We report here the development and initial characterization of a novel, differentiation-resistant HL-60 cell line (HL-60-1E3) which was established by cloning the parent HL-60 line in the absence of mutagens or differentiation-inducing agents. HL-60-1E3 exhibits markedly reduced phorbol diester-induced expression of extracellular cytolytic activity, nonspecific esterase, phagocytosis, and surface Mo1 antigen. In addition, dimethyl sulfoxide-induced expression of both Mo1 and Mo2 is markedly reduced. However, if HL-60-1E3 is exposed to dimethyl sulfoxide, it acquires appreciable phorbol diester-triggered cytolytic activity and production of superoxide anion (O2-). Phorbol diester receptor number and dissociation constant (Kd) obtained by Scatchard analysis are not significantly different for the two cell lines. The HL-60-1E3 cell line should provide a useful adjunct to other cell lines used in the study of normal myeloid and leukemic cell differentiation, as well as the study of cytokine maturation factors and oncogene expression.