Comparative analysis of the effects of recombinant cytokines on the growth and differentiation of ML-1, a human myelogenous leukemic cell line.

We have investigated the effect of a number of cytokines on the human acute myelomonocytic leukemic cell line, ML-1. The differentiation inducing effects of interleukins (IL-1 beta, IL-3 and IL-6), colony stimulating factors (GCSF and GMCSF), TNF, LIF and IFNg, were studied either individually or in combination. Criteria for monocytic differentiation were as follows: an increase in the percentage of cells reducing nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) salt, an increase in the alkaline phosphatase activity as well as the appearance of macrophagic phenotype. Among all the cytokines tested, only TNF was found to induce differentiation and to inhibit growth of ML-1 cells. IL-3, IL-6, interferon gamma, GCSF and to a smaller extent IL-1 beta and GMCSF synergized the differentiation inducing activity of TNF.