Effect of ubenimex on the proliferation and differentiation of U937 human histiocytic lymphoma cells.

We investigated the effect of ubenimex on the growth and differentiation of U937 cells, a histiocytic lymphoma cell line. Ubenimex is a dipeptide ((2S,3R)-3-amino-2-hydroxy-4-phenylbutyryl-L-leucine) and an inhibitor of aminopeptidase B produced by Streptomyces olivoreticuli. Ubenimex inhibited the proliferation of U937 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Ubenimex-treated U937 cells showed condensation of nuclear chromatin, increase of cytoplasmic vacuoles and more intense nonspecific esterase staining compared with untreated U937 cells. Expression of CD13 and CD68 detected by monoclonal antibodies My7 and EBM11, respectively, was enhanced by ubenimex, but the expression of CD4 detected by MT310 was significantly decreased. The effects of ubenimex on U937 cell growth inhibition and enhancement of monocytic cell surface marker expression on U937 cells were reversible when cultivated without ubenimex for more than 6 days. In addition, the bactericidal activity of U937 cells was increased by ubenimex treatment, and was further enhanced by treatment with macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF). Furthermore, ubenimex augmented the expression of M-CSF receptors by U937 cells and enhanced the tyrosine kinase activity of cellular pp60c-src. These findings indicated that ubenimex inhibited the proliferation of U937 cells and induced morphological, cytochemical and functional differentiation into monocyte/macrophages.