The role of Ca2+ and protein kinase C in the differentiation of HL-60 cells induced by 1 alpha,25(OH)2D3 and diltiazem.

The roles of calcium (Ca2+) and protein kinase C in the differentiation of HL-60 cells induced by 1 alpha,25(OH)2D3 (D3) and/or a Ca2+ antagonist, diltiazem(D-cis, L-cis), were elucidated. D3 and diltiazem (100 microM) inhibited cell proliferation, and diltiazem enhanced the D3-induced differentiation. There was no difference in potency between the two isomers of diltiazem in the enhancing activity, in spite of their different pharmacological activity. The concentration of free Ca2+ in the HL-60 cells following D3 and/or diltiazem treatment significantly increased. A protein kinase C inhibitor, H-7, inhibited the phenotypic differentiation induced by D3. These results suggest that Ca2+ and protein kinase C play an important role in the differentiation of HL-60 cells induced by D3 and diltiazem.