Differentiation and production of colony-stimulating factor induced by immunostimulants in a leukemia cell line.

Immunostimulants from various microorganisms were tested on a myeloid leukemia cell line (M1) for the ability to induce production of CSF and to cause differentiation of these cells. Based on their activities, the compounds were divided into two general classes: those inducing extensive cellular differentiation and those devoid of this effect. The stimulants which were active in this regard always produced large quantities of CSF, whereas those devoid of a differentiating effect did not cause CSF production. Even the potent stimulants had no effect on the D subline, in which the differentiation was not inducible.