A 41 kDa transferrin related molecule acts as an autocrine growth factor for HL-60 cells.

HL-60 cells produce an autostimulatory growth factor. Since the stimulatory effect of HL-60 conditioned medium is only observed in the absence of exogenous transferrin we have assayed HL-60 cells for the production of transferrin and found that they produce polypeptides which react with transferrin antibodies. 35S-methionine labelling, immunoprecipitation and subsequent separation by SDS-gel electrophoresis reveals the presence of a major transferrin related 41 +/- 2 kDa species released by HL-60 cells. Physiological levels of iron salts completely abolish the requirement of exogenous transferrin which indicates that the endogenous transferrin related polypeptides in the presence of exogenous inorganic iron salts are sufficient for the proliferation of HL-60 cells provided insulin or related growth factors are present. The addition of transferrin receptor antibodies inhibits the stimulatory action of the endogenous transferrin related activity.