Identification of components of differentiation-inducing activity of human T-cell lymphoma cells by induction of differentiation in human myeloid leukemia cells.

Two lymphokines that contribute to induction of cell differentiation in promyelocytic HL-60 leukemia cells by human T-cell lymphoma HUT-102 cells were identified previously. The lymphokines identified in the differentiation-inducing preparation were interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and lymphotoxin. To determine the remaining component(s) of this differentiation-inducing activity, we used gene-cloned (recombinant) forms and antibodies of lymphokines. The differentiation-inducing activity of the HUT-102 cells was not completely neutralized by the antibodies, suggesting that an additional lymphokine(s) is involved. Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) in combination with retinoic acid induced differentiation of the HL-60 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, the activity of the differentiation-inducing factors was partially inhibited by anti-GM-CSF antibody and completely inhibited by the combination of antibodies to lymphotoxin, IFN-gamma, and GM-CSF. These results indicate that, in addition to IFN-gamma and lymphotoxin, GM-CSF is the third major component released by HUT-102 cells for inducing differentiation of HL-60 cells.