The influence of amphotericin B on differentiation induced by dimethylsulfoxide and actinomycin D in HL60 and Friend cell lines.

We use murine erythroid Friend cells and human promyelocytic HL60 cells to investigate the influence of a transmembrane signal in triggering myeloid or erythroid cell differentiation. Combined treatments were given with dimethylsulfoxide, actinomycin D and amphotericin B, a substance which resembles a deviant membrane lipid and which seems to influence exclusively membrane activity. Our results suggest that a membrane modification alone is sufficient for in vitro HL60 cell differentiation, whereas both a transmembrane and a nuclear signal are necessary for Friend cell differentiation.