Effect of a cell differentiation inducer, ganglioside GM3, on the neutral glycosphingolipid composition and cell membrane fluidity of a human promyelocytic leukemia cell line HL-60.

In this paper the authors confirmed the finding reported by Nojiri et al that exogenous ganglioside GM3 could induce HL-60 cells to differentiate along the monocytic-macrophage route with significant inhibition of proliferation. It was found that after differentiation the neutral GSL content of CDH and CMH increased, while that of CXH, a polyhexosyl ceramide with a TLC mobility slower than CQH, decreased significantly. The membrane fluidity of HL-60 cells decreased after GM3 treatment.