[3H]Ouabain binding and 86 rubidium uptake during the dimethyl sulfoxide-induced differentiation of human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells.

When HL-60 cells were induced to differentiate into granulocyte-like cells by culture in the presence of 1.3% dimethyl sulfoxide, an increase in the rate of ouabain-sensitive 86Rb transport was observed during the first 6 h followed by a constant decrease which became stable on day 4 at about 40% of control level. By contrast, the number of ouabain binding sites remained constant during the first 24 h then decreased with the same kinetics as that of the 86Rb transport rate. These results suggest that alterations in ionic fluxes, through activation of the sodium pump, are part of the early events resulting in HL-60 cell differentiation.