Inhibition of proliferation and induction of monocytic differentiation on HL60 human promyelocytic leukemia cells treated with bile acids in vitro.

We have tested the effect of several bile acids on the proliferation and differentiation of the HL60 human promyelocytic leukemia cell line in vitro. Deoxycholate, chenodeoxycholate and lithocholic acid caused dose-dependent inhibition of cell proliferation and induction of differentiation along the monocyte/macrophage pathway as determined by morphology, NBT test, non-specific esterase, and staining by monoclonal antibodies against specific cell-surface antigens. Optimal effects were obtained at 100, 75, and 60 microM of the 3 bile acids respectively. Cell-cycle flow-cytometric analysis showed that a substantial fraction of HL60 cells accumulated at the G0/G1 transition. Protein-kinase-C inhibitors such as sphinganine and H-7 inhibited the differentiation-inducing effect of bile acids, suggesting a possible role for PKC in this regulation. When bile acids were combined with non-effective concentrations of all-trans retinoic acid, enhancement of the monocytic differentiation of THP-1 human leukemia cells was observed. Our findings demonstrate induction of tumor-cell differentiation by bile acids, compounds that present minimal undesirable effects in humans.