Effect of DL-alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E) on the differentiation of mouse myeloid leukemia cell

The effect of DL-alpha-tocopherol on the differentiation of the mouse myeloid leukemia cell line (M1) was investigated using fluorometry. The reliability of the fluorometric determination was verified by the mutual overlapping of the curves of disappearance of the radioactivity recovered as alpha-tocopherol and the loss of its fluorescence. alpha-Tocopherol solubilized into the culture medium was relatively stable (t1/2 = 147-168 hr). In corporation of alpha-tocopherol into M1 cells was time- and dose-dependent. Proliferation of M1 cells was never inhibited, but was slightly enhanced by treatment with alpha-tocopherol. alpha-Tocopherol caused a twofold increase in acid-phosphatase activity and slightly inhibited both the spontaneous- and dexamethasone-induced differentiation with respect to adhesion on glass and cell surface-rosette formation. alpha-Tocopherol also induced morphological change, making the shape of M1 cells rounder.