Evidence that inositol phospholipids, but not choline phospholipids, are a potential source of growth-regulating second messenger molecules in HL60 leukaemia cells.

Diacylglycerol is a potent second messenger which is generated via the cleavage of inositol- or choline-containing phospholipids and is involved in the transduction of proliferative signals. We have previously obtained evidence that the constitutive breakdown of inositol lipids may contribute to signalling the continuous proliferation of HL60 leukaemia cells (Porfiri E., Hoffbrand A. V. & Wickremasinghe R. G. (1991) Blood 78, 1069-1077). In order to assess the role of choline lipids as potential sources of growth-regulating second messengers, we have studied the pathways of constitutive breakdown of radiolabelled phosphatidylcholine in intact HL60 cells. Neither exponentially growing HL60 cells nor HL60 cells which had been induced to cease proliferation by treatment with dimethyl-sulphoxide degraded choline lipids via phospholipase C- or phospholipase D-catalysed pathways. Both pathways were, however, activated by phorbol myristate acetate irrespective of proliferation status. The data here suggest that, unlike inositol lipids, choline lipids are not a source of second messenger molecules with potential roles in the regulation of HL60 cell proliferation.