Antileukemic effect of alkyl phospholipids. I. Inhibition of proliferation and induction of differentiation of cultured myeloid leukemia cells by alkyl ethyleneglycophospholipids.

Various alkyl ethyleneglycophospholipids, i.e., alkyl phospholipids, with ethyleneglycol or its congener in place of glycerol as a molecular backcone, were synthesized and their effects on cell proliferation and differentiation of cultured human (HL-60) and mosue (Ml) myeloid leukemia cells were studied. On incubation with alkyl ethyleneglycophospholipids, proliferation of both cell lines was inhibited and the cells were induced to differentiate into morphologically and functionally mature granulocytes and macrophages. Among the compounds tested, dodecyl ethyleneglycophospholipid with a pyridinioethyl group was the most effective in induction of differentiation of both cell lines.