No abstract

Phorbol esters induce the human HL-60 promyelocytic cell line to differentiate along a monocytic pathway. This induction of differentiation may involve phorbol ester-induced activation of the phospholipid- and calcium-dependent protein kinase C. Bryostatin 1, a macrocyclic lactone, has been shown to compete with phorbol esters for binding to protein kinase C. We have confirmed that bryostatin 1 translocates activity of protein kinase C from the cytosolic to membrane fractions of HL-60 cells. The present results also demonstrate that bryostatin 1 (10 nmol/L) induces monocytic differentiation of HL- 60 cells as determined by adherence, growth inhibition, appearance of monocyte cell surface antigens, and alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase staining. Furthermore, bryostatin 1 (10 nmol/L) downregulated c-myc expression and induced c-fos, c-fms, and tumor necrosis factor transcripts. These changes in gene expression induced by bryostatin 1 are similar to those associated with phorbol ester-induced monocytic differentiation of HL-60 cells. In contrast, exposure to a higher concentration of bryostatin 1 (100 nmol/L) had less of an effect on growth inhibition of HL-60 cells and changes in gene expression. Moreover, 100 nmol/L bryostatin 1 antagonized the cytostatic effects and adherence induced by phorbol esters. Our results thus suggest that bryostatin 1 activates HL-60 cell protein kinase C and that this effect is associated with induction of monocytic differentiation.

Treatment of human HL-60 leukemic cells with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol- 13-acetate (TPA) is associated with activation of protein kinase C (PKC) and induction of monocytic differentiation. An HL-60 variant cell line, termed HL-525, derived from long-term exposure to TPA (Homma et al, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 83: 7316, 1986) is resistant to TPA-induced differentiation and displays decreased PKC beta expression compared with the HL-60 parent line. However, this variant exhibits features of granulocytic differentiation, including nitroblue tetrazolium reduction, when exposed to all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA). Whereas treatment of HL-525 cells with ATRA or TPA alone had no effect on features of monocytic differentiation, these agents in combination resulted in cellular adhesion, nonspecific esterase staining, and induction of the c-fms (monocyte growth factor receptor) gene. In order to measure PKC expression associated with the reversal of TPA resistance by ATRA, we exposed HL-525 cells to ATRA and analyzed PKC- mRNA and protein levels. Exposure of HL-525 cells to ATRA for 3 days resulted in induction of PKC beta transcripts, whereas there was little change in PKC alpha mRNA levels. ATRA treatment was also associated with an increase in PKC activity and an induction of cytosolic PKC beta protein levels. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that ATRA reverses TPA resistance in HL-525 cells by enhancing the expression of PKC.