Apoptosis of human leukemic HL-60 cells induced to differentiate by phorbol ester treatment

In the human leukemic HL-60 cell line, we have reported previously that monocytic/macrophage-like differentiation induced by TPA (12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate) was associated with a decreased sensitivity to various apoptosis-inducing stimuli (Solary, Bertrand, Pommier, Blood 1993; 81:1359-1368). In the present study, we studied further the effects of TPA alone on the induction of apoptosis in HL-60 cells. Based on morphology by electron microscopy, identification of internucleosomal DNA cleavage by gel electrophoresis and quantitation of DNA fragmentation by a filter binding assay, we observed that neither morphologic changes nor DNA damage were identified in TPA-differentiated HL-60 cells as long as they kept the adherent phenotype characteristic of this differentiation pathway. However, adherent TPA-treated HL-60 cells that secondarily detached from the flask demonstrated internucleosomal DNA fragmentation associated with morphologic changes characteristic of apoptosis. Similarly, HL-60 cells that never became adherent after TPA treatment underwent rapid apoptosis. Granulocytic differentiation by retinoic acid (RA) treatment also induced apoptosis although more slowly. Interestingly, in both TPA- and RA-treated cells, apoptotic bodies appeared to be phagocytosed by differentiated cells from the same lineage. Internucleosomal DNA fragmentation was also identified in HL-60 cells induced to differentiate by sodium butyrate and dimethylsulfoxide treatment, suggesting that apoptosis could be the common mode of death of terminally differentiated HL-60 cells.