[Interrelation between transferrin receptor expression and intracellular ferritin concentration in leukemia cells and...

Serum-free cultures of HL60 promyelocytic leukemia cells and cultured fresh leukemia and normal marrow cells were used to investigate relationships between proliferation, transferrin receptor (TfR) display and intracellular ferritin (Fer). HL60 cells in serum- und Tf-free medium displayed 3 times less TfR than cells in serum or Tf containing medium. But Fer in Tf-independent cells was 50 times higher than Fer in serum- or Tf-supplemented cells. HL60 cells induced to differentiate by DMSO or vitamin D3 decreased TfR but increased Fer. Expression of TfR with fresh leukemia and normal marrow cells was less clear than in HL60 cells; DMSO or vitamin D3 induced differentiation was associated with a 10-fold Fer increase in leukemia cells and greater than 100-fold increase in marrow cells. TfR-expression and ferritin synthesis may be important events in cell differentiation and growth.