Geranylgeranylacetone used as an antiulcer agent is a potent inducer of differentiation of various human myeloid leukemia cell lines.

Low concentrations of geranylgeranylacetone (GGA), known as an antiulcer agent (Teprenone), induces differentiation of various human myeloid leukemia cell lines. The cell lines examined in the present study were myeloblastic ML1, histiocytic U937, promyelocytic HL60, and multipotential K562. All of these cell lines were induced to differentiate by 20 microM GGA, as measured by NBT staining. Neither polyprenylacetones, with more or fewer isoprene units than the geranylgeranyl group, nor polyprenylalcohols had no differentiation-inducing activity. GGA used in combination with RA or TNF-alpha increased ML1 cell differentiation. The present results suggest that GGA may be a useful agent in differentiation therapy of leukemia.