The role of calcium in differentiation of leukemic cell lines.

Increased calcium influx associated with differentiation of four human myeloid leukemic cell lines: HL-60, KG-1, U-937 and K-562, to either monocytic or granulocytic direction was demonstrated. Calcium influx was measured employing two methods; measurement of radioactive calcium influx rate at 4 degrees C and employing the fluorescent probe, fura-2 acetoxymethyl ester. The increase in Ca2+ influx was demonstrated with three chemically unrelated differentiation inducers: retinoic acid, 1 alpha, 25 dihydroxy vitamin D3 and dimethyl sulfoxide. Inhibitors of calcium uptake such as verapamil diltiazem and cromolyn, partially reduced differentiation, suggesting that differentiation of myeloid leukemic cell lines is dependent on the availability of extracellular calcium.