Inability of HL-60 cells induced by phorbol myristate acetate to produce macrophage-associated glycosaminoglycans.

Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) have been implicated in many functions of human blood cells. Normal human monocytes grown on plastic culture dishes for five days display macrophage-like morphology and functional characteristics concurrent with the appearance of a 4,6-disulfated chondroitin. This process has been regarded as in vitro differentiation. HL-60 human promyelocytic leukemia cells produce chondroitin 4-sulfate, which is the major GAG constituent of normal granulocytes and monocytes. These cells can be induced by phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) to develop many macrophage-like characteristics. This study investigates GAG production by HL-60 cells after prolonged exposure to PMA. Disulfated chondroitin molecules were not detected. This biochemical abnormality may be an important factor in the functional deficiencies of these induced cells.