Characterization, by immunoprecipitation, of myeloid- and monocyte-specific antigens present on the human promyelocytic cell line (HL-60) in three stages of differentiation.

The human promyelocytic leukemia cell line HL-60 is reactive with an antiserum raised against normal human granulocytes (AGS). Immunoprecipitation with AGS on [35S]methionine-labeled HL-60 cell lysates with subsequent analysis by NaDodSO4/polyacrylamide slab gel electrophoresis shows a major antigenic doublet with molecular weights of 88,000 and 86,000, together with some minor antigens of lower molecular weight. Upon stimulation with dimethyl sulfoxide or 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate, which induces HL-60 to differentiate to mature granulocytes or monocytes/macrophages, respectively, this antigenic doublet disappears. 12-O-Tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate induces the synthesis of an antigen, molecular weight 83,000, reactive with an antimonocyte serum. Neutrophil-specific alloantigens were not detected on HL-60 or its differentiated derivatives.