Differentiation Of K562 Leukemia Cells Research Articles

MiR-let-7c-3p targeting on Egr-1 contributes to the committed differentiation of leukemia cells into monocyte/macrophages.

In preliminary experiments, it was found that the expression of early growth response-1 (Egr-1) was upregulated during the committed differentiation of leukemia cells into monocytes/macrophages. The cross-analysis of gene chip detection and database prediction indicated that Egr-1 was associated with upstream microRNA (miR)-let-7c-3p, thus the present study focused on the role of the miR-let-7c-3p/Egr-1 signaling axis in the committed differentiation of leukemia cells into monocytes/macrophages. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) was used to induce the directed differentiation of human K562 leukemia cells into monocytes/macrophages and the differentiation of K562 leukemia cells was determined by cell morphology observation and expression of differentiation antigens CD11b and CD14 by flow cytometry. The expression levels of Egr-1 and miR-let-7c-3p were detected by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR and the protein expression of Egr-1 was detected by western blotting. The effect of Egr-1 on the differentiation of K562 cells was detected by short interfering (si)RNA interference assay. A dual-luciferase reporter assay was used to detect target binding of miR-let-7c-3p on the 3′UTR of Egr-1. Cell transfection of miR-let-7c-3p mimics and inhibitors was used to modulate the expression of miR-let-7c-3p, as indicated by RT-qPCR assays. Western blotting was also used to examine the effect of miR-let-7c-3p on Egr-1 expression. The PMA-induced differentiation of K562 cells was transfected with miR-let-7c-3p and the expression of differentiation antigen was detected by flow cytometry. A differentiation model of K562 leukemia cells into monocytes/macrophages was induced by PMA, which was indicated by morphological observations and upregulation of CD11b and CD14 antigens. The gene or protein expression of Egr-1 was significantly higher compared with that of the control group, while the expression of miR-let-7c-3p was significantly lower compared with that of the control group. siRNA interference experiments showed that the expression of cell differentiation antigen CD14 in the 100 µg/ml PMA + si-Egr-1 group was significantly lower compared with that in the 100 µg/ml PMA + si-ctrl group. The dual luciferase reporter gene results showed that the luciferase activity of the co-transfected mimic and Egr-1 WT groups was significantly lower than that of the NC control group, while the luciferase activity of the co-transfected mimic and Egr-1 MUT groups was comparable to that of the NC control group. Therefore, the dual-luciferase reporter gene assay confirmed that miR-let-7c-3p can target Egr-1. Western blotting showed that the expression of Egr-1 following transfection with miR-let-7c-3p inhibitor was significantly higher compared with that of the negative control and the expression of Egr-1 after transfection with miR-let-7c-3p mimic was significantly lower than that of the negative control. Following exposure to PMA, the expressions of CD11b and CD14 in the miR-let-7c-3p inhibitor group were significantly higher than those in the miR-let-7c-3p NC group, as indicated by CD11b and CD14 respectively. In conclusion, miR-let-7c-3p could bind to the 3′UTR of Egr-1 and negatively regulated Egr-1 expression. The miR-let-7c-3p/Egr-1 signaling axis was closely associated with the committed differentiation of K562 cells from leukemia cells to monocytes/macrophages.

Two cell differentiation inducing pyridoacridines from a marine sponge Biemna sp. and their chemical conversions

Two pyridoacridines, N-hydroxymethylisocystodamine (1) and neolabuanine A (2), together with the known ecionine A (3), ecionine B (4), isocystodamine (5), N-methylisocystodamine (6), 9-hydroxyisoascididemin (7), and biemnadin (8), were isolated from a marine sponge Biemna sp. Several of these compounds were shown to induce cell differentiation of K562 leukemia cells into erythrocytes. Following inspection of the NMR data, and comparison of these data with literature values, we demonstrated that neolabuanine A (2) had the structure previously reported as labuanine A (2), and that the compound initially reported under the name of labuanine A possessed the structure assigned to ecionine A (3). We found that both neolabuanine A (2) and ecionine A (3) were gradually converted to 9-hydroxyisoascididemin (7), indicating that 2 and 3 can be considered both as precursors of 7.

Regulatory Roles of KLF3 in Hematopoiesis of K562 Leukemia Cells

Objective: KLF3 (Kruppel-like factor 3) is involved in the differentiation and development of a wide range of cell lineages. However, the regulatory roles of KLF3 in hematopoiesis of K562 leukemia cells remain largely unknown. Methods: The public gene expression databases that represent the heterogeneity of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) disease were downloaded from GEO datasets in NCBI. KLF3-deficient K562 stable cells were established and microarray datasets were analyzed. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis was used to identify the affected hematopoiesis-associated genes in KLF3-deficient K562 cells. Ingenuity Pathways Analysis (IPA) was used to identify the affected hematopoiesis-associated functions, interaction networks, pathways and the upstream regulators involving differentially expressed genes (DEGs). KLF3-deficient K562 cells were respectively induced towards erythrocytes and megakaryocytes with hemin and PMA, and phenotypic analyses were performed. We also utilized qPCR technique to analyze KLF3 expression during erythroid and megakaryocyte differentiation of K562 cells. Results: We report that KLF3 is aberrantly expressed at low levels in primary acute leukemia blast cells from patients that are associated with the accumulation of immature myeloid or lymphoid phenotypes of leukemia cells. The bioinformatics analyses reveal that KLF3 is closely involved in hematopoiesis-associated functions in K562 leukemia cells, and potentially regulates hematopoiesis of different blood cell lineages, including erythrocytes and megakaryocytes. KLF3 is probably associated with the pathology of hematological diseases. Finally, the functional analysis demonstrated that KLF3 deficiency accelerates K562 leukemia cells towards erythroid and megakaryocyte differentiation, and is indispensable for the early stage of hematopoiesis in K562 leukemia cells. We also proposed the potential mechanisms that KLF3 regulates hematopoiesis in K562 cells. Conclusion: Our results first reveal that KLF3 regulates erythroid and megakaryocyte differentiation of K562 leukemia cells, and KLF3 deficiency is indispensible for the early stage of erythroid and megakaryocyte differentiation in K562 leukemia cells.

Decreased Intracellular pH Induced by Cariporide Differentially Contributes to Human Umbilical Cord-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Differentiation

Background/Aims: Na+/H+ exchanger 1 (NHE1) is an important regulator of intracellular pH (pH_i). High pH_i is required for cell proliferation and differentiation. Our previous study has proven that the pH_i of mesenchymal stem cells is higher than that of normal differentiated cells and similar to tumor cells. NHE1 is highly expressed in both mesenchymal stem cells and tumor cells. Targeted inhibition of NHE1 could induce differentiation of K562 leukemia cells. In the present paper we explored whether inhibition of NHE1 could induce differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells. Methods: MSCs were obtained from human umbilical cord and both the surface phenotype and functional characteristics were analyzed. Selective NHE1 inhibitor cariporide was used to treat human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs). The pH_i and the differentiation of hUC-MSCs were compared upon cariporide treatment. The putative signaling pathway involved was also explored. Results: The pH_i of hUC-MSCs was decreased upon cariporide treatment. Cariporide up-regulated the osteogenic differentiation of hUC-MSCs while the adipogenic differentiation was not affected. For osteogenic differentiation, β-catenin expression was up-regulated upon cariporide treatment. Conclusion: Decreased pH_i induced by cariporide differentially contributes to hUC-MSCs differentiation.

Synergistic effect of hydrogen peroxide on polyploidization during the megakaryocytic differentiation of K562 leukemia cells by PMA

The human myelogenous cell line, K562 has been extensively used as a model for the study of megakaryocytic (MK) differentiation, which could be achieved by exposure to phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). In this study, real-time PCR analysis revealed that the expression of catalase (cat) was significantly repressed during MK differentiation of K562 cells induced by PMA. In addition, PMA increased the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) concentration, suggesting that ROS was a key factor for PMA-induced differentiation. PMA-differentiated K562 cells were exposed to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to clarify the function of ROS during MK differentiation. Interestingly, the percentage of high-ploidy (DNA content >4N) cells with H2O2 was 34.8±2.3% at day 9, and was 70% larger than that without H2O2 (21.5±0.8%). Further, H2O2 addition during the first 3 days of PMA-induced MK differentiation had the greatest effect on polyploidization. In an effort to elucidate the mechanisms of enhanced polyploidization by H2O2, the BrdU assay clearly indicated that H2O2 suppressed the division of 4N cells into 2N cells, followed by the increased polyploidization of K562 cells. These findings suggest that the enhancement in polyploidization mediated by H2O2 is due to synergistic inhibition of cytokinesis with PMA. Although H2O2 did not increase ploidy during the MK differentiation of primary cells, we clearly observed that cat expression was repressed in both immature and mature primary MK cells, and that treatment with the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine effectively blocked and/or delayed the polyploidization of immature MK cells. Together, these findings suggest that MK cells are more sensitive to ROS levels during earlier stages of maturation.

Nerve growth factor potentiated the sodium butyrate- and PMA-induced megakaryocytic differentiation of K562 leukemia cells

We have recently reported that retinoic acid (RA) induced the expression of trkA, the high affinity receptor for nerve growth factor (NGF), in human chronic myelogenous leukemia K562 cells. In this paper, we examined the ability of several other differentiation inducers to regulate the expression of trkA and NGF in K562 cells. We found that the expression of trkA was dramatically induced by the two megakaryocyte lineage inducers sodium butyrate (NaBut) and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), but not by the two erythrocyte lineage inducers hemin or 1-β- d-arabinofuranosyl cytosine (Ara-C). Furthermore, activation of the up-regulated trkA receptor by exogenous NGF potentiated the megakaryocytic differentiation of K562 cells induced by NaBut and PMA. Our results demonstrated that trkA is one of the essential genes that are up-regulated and involved in the megakaryocytic differentiation of K562 leukemia cells triggered by these differentiation inducers. Our findings suggest that NGF, in addition to its pivotal roles in the nervous system, may also play important roles in hematopoietic differentiation.

Characteristic features of embryogenesis and oogenesis in the beetlesAdalia bipunctata L. andHarmonia axyridis Pall. in all-female families

We studied the ability of inducers and inhibitors of erythroid differentiation of K562 leukemia cells, such as sodium butyrate, dimethyl sulfoxide, and phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate, respectively, to modulate sensitivity of these cells to non-specific lysis (non-restricted with respect to antigens of the major histocompatibility complex) mediated by natural human or rat killer cells. Unfractionated leukocytes from human peripheral blood or rat splenocytes were used as sources of natural killers. The induction of erythroid differentiation by sodium butyrate was accompanied by a significant increase in cell sensitivity to lysis with human peripheral blood lymphocytes; incubation of K562 cells in the mixture of sodium butyrate and dimethyl sulfoxide did not change cell sensitivity to lysis by both types of effector cells. The inhibition of sodium butyrate-induced erythroid differentiation with high doses of phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (100 nM; incubation was in the presence of both these agents simultaneously) resulted in an increased cell sensitivity to lysis with rat splenocytes. Incubation of K562 cells in a mixture of sodium butyrate, dimethyl sulfoxide, and phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (100 nM) produced greater lysis by human leukocytes, as compared with incubation in the mixture of sodium butyrate and dimethyl sulfoxide.

Exposure to sodium butyrate, dimethyl sulfoxide, and phorbol-12-myristine-13-acetate alters sensitivity of K562 cells to nonspecific lysis by human or rat leukocytes

We studied the ability of inducers and inhibitors of erythroid differentiation of K562 leukemia cells, such as sodium butyrate, dimethyl sulfoxide, and phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate, respectively, to modulate sensitivity of these cells to nonspecific lysis (nonrestricted with respect to antigens of the major histocompatibilty complex) mediated by natural human or rat killer cells. Unfractionated leukocytes from human peripheral blood or rat splenocytes were used as sources of natural killers. The induction of erythroid differentiation by sodium butyrate was accompanied by a significant increase in cell sensitivity to lysis with human peripheral blood lymphocytes; incubation of K562 cells in the mixture of sodium butyrate and dimethyl sulfoxide did not change cell sensitivity to lysis by both types of effector cells. The inhibition of sodium butyrate-induced erythroid differentiation with high doses of phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (100 nM; incubation was in the presence of both these agents simultaneously) resulted in an increased cell sensitivity to lysis with rat splenocytes. Incubation of K562 cells in a mixture of sodium butyrate, dimethyl sulfoxide, and phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (100 nM) produced greater lysis by human leukocytes, as compared with incubation in the mixture of sodium butyrate and dimethyl sulfoxide.

Inhibition by 1,25 Dihydroxyvitamin D3 of Chemically Induced Erythroid Differentiation of K562 Leukemia Cells

AbstractThe physiologically active form of vitamin D, 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3], was found to inhibit erythroid differentiation of human leukemic K562 cells. Differentiation was induced by 1 μmol/L arabinocytosine (Ara-C), 40 μmol/L tiazofurin, 1 μmol/L aphidicolin, or 1μmol/L hydroxyurea, and was monitored daily by the appearance of hemoglobin in an increasing proportion of cells. Pretreatment for 48 hours with 2.4 × 10−-8 mol/L 1,25(OH)2D3, a concentration that is also optimal for induction of monocytic differentiation of HL-60 cells, reproducibly inhibited subsequent induction of erythroid differentiation by all of the above inducers, and modified the morphologic changes that Ara-C produced in these cells. The inhibition of hemoglobinization was approximately 50% irrespective of the degree of differentiation produced by the various inducers, but growth inhibition associated with exposure to the inducers was not affected by 1,25(OH)2D3. Similar inhibition of differentiation by 1,25(OH)2D3 was observed in mouse erythroleukemia cells MEL-D1B treated with 5 mmol/L hexamethylenebisacetamide. The inhibitory effect of 1,25(OH)2D3 on erythroid differentiation of K562 cells was abrogated by cyclohexamide (20 μg/mL), an inhibitor of protein synthesis. The mRNA for 1,25(OH)2D3 receptor (VDR) was detected in K562 cells, and was downreg-ulated by a 96-hour exposure to 1,25(OH)2D3 or a 48-hour exposure to Ara-C. The presence of VDR mRNA suggests a physiologic role for 1,25(OH)2D3 in K562 cells that are precursors of erythroid cells. This role is perhaps to shift the pathways of differentiation from the erythroid to the monocytic lineage.

Inhibition by 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D3 of chemically induced erythroid differentiation of K562 leukemia cells

The physiologically active form of vitamin D, 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3], was found to inhibit erythroid differentiation of human leukemic K562 cells. Differentiation was induced by 1 mumol/L arabinocytosine (Ara-C), 40 mumol/L tiazofurin, 1 mumol/L aphidicolin, or 1 mumol/L hydroxyurea, and was monitored daily by the appearance of hemoglobin in an increasing proportion of cells. Pretreatment for 48 hours with 2.4 x 10(-8) mol/L 1,25(OH)2D3, a concentration that is also optimal for induction of monocytic differentiation of HL-60 cells, reproducibly inhibited subsequent induction of erythroid differentiation by all of the above inducers, and modified the morphologic changes that Ara-C produced in these cells. The inhibition of hemoglobinization was approximately 50% irrespective of the degree of differentiation produced by the various inducers, but growth inhibition associated with exposure to the inducers was not affected by 1,25(OH)2D3. Similar inhibition of differentiation by 1,25(OH)2D3 was observed in mouse erythroleukemia cells MEL-D1B treated with 5 mmol/L hexamethylenebisacetamide. The inhibitory effect of 1,25(OH)2D3 on erythroid differentiation of K562 cells was abrogated by cyclohexamide (20 micrograms/mL), an inhibitor of protein synthesis. The mRNA for 1,25(OH)2D3 receptor (VDR) was detected in K562 cells, and was downregulated by a 96-hour exposure to 1,25(OH)2D3 or a 48-hour exposure to Ara-C. The presence of VDR mRNA suggests a physiologic role for 1,25(OH)2D3 in K562 cells that are precursors of erythroid cells. This role is perhaps to shift the pathways of differentiation from the erythroid to the monocytic lineage.

Increased Erythroid Potentiating Activity/Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases and jun/fos Transcription Factor Complex Characterize Tumor Promoter-Induced Megakaryoblastic Differentiation of K562 Leukemia Cells

Molecular cloning has revealed that erythroid potentiating activity (EPA) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP) represent two distinct activities of a single protein. We have studied the expression of the EPA/TIMP gene at the mRNA and protein levels during 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced megakaryoblastic differentiation of K562 human chronic myeloid leukemia cells. Northern hybridization analysis showed that the EPA/TIMP mRNA was increased within 3 hours of TPA-induction and reached maximal levels (about 50-fold induction) during the first day of treatment. The expression of mRNAs for two major metalloproteinases, collagenase-I and stromelysin, were activated in parallel in the differentiation-induced K562 cells. The increase of EPA/TIMP mRNA correlated with increased EPA/TIMP protein biosynthesis and secretion: the TPA-induced cells secreted substantially enhanced amounts of metabolically labeled proteins, of which EPA/TIMP represented up to 50% after the first day of treatment (over 100-fold induction). The induction of EPA/TIMP mRNA was associated with its increased transcription. EPA/TIMP induction required continuous protein synthesis, being completely inhibited by addition of the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide simultaneously with TPA, but only partially inhibited in a time-dependent manner if cycloheximide was added after TPA. Unlike in other cells tested, the jun and c-fos transcription factor mRNAs showed a prolonged biphasic induction response in K562 cells during TPA treatment. This response was associated with enhanced activity of a transfected recombinant reporter plasmid containing binding sites for the jun/fos transcription factor complex (AP-1) similar to the TPA-responsive element (TRE) sequence we found in the EPA/TIMP gene promoter. We suggest that the induction of EPA/TIMP and several other genes specific for the differentiating K562 cells may be a consequence of the sustained activation of immediate early genes encoding transcription factors, such as jun and c-fos.

Increased erythroid potentiating activity/tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases and jun/fos transcription factor complex characterize tumor promoter-induced megakaryoblastic differentiation of K562 leukemia cells

Molecular cloning has revealed that erythroid potentiating activity (EPA) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP) represent two distinct activities of a single protein. We have studied the expression of the EPA/TIMP gene at the mRNA and protein levels during 12-O- tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced megakaryoblastic differentiation of K562 human chronic myeloid leukemia cells. Northern hybridization analysis showed that the EPA/TIMP mRNA was increased within 3 hours of TPA-induction and reached maximal levels (about 50- fold induction) during the first day of treatment. The expression of mRNAs for two major metalloproteinases, collagenase-I and stromelysin, were activated in parallel in the differentiation-induced K562 cells. The increase of EPA/TIMP mRNA correlated with increased EPA/TIMP protein biosynthesis and secretion: the TPA-induced cells secreted substantially enhanced amounts of metabolically labeled proteins, of which EPA/TIMP represented up to 50% after the first day of treatment (over 100-fold induction). The induction of EPA/TIMP mRNA was associated with its increased transcription. EPA/TIMP induction required continuous protein synthesis, being completely inhibited by addition of the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide simultaneously with TPA, but only partially inhibited in a time- dependent manner if cycloheximide was added after TPA. Unlike in other cells tested, the jun and c-fos transcription factor mRNAs showed a prolonged biphasic induction response in K562 cells during TPA treatment. This response was associated with enhanced activity of a transfected recombinant reporter plasmid containing binding sites for the jun/fos transcription factor complex (AP-1) similar to the TPA- responsive element (TRE) sequence we found in the EPA/TIMP gene promoter. We suggest that the induction of EPA/TIMP and several other genes specific for the differentiating K562 cells may be a consequence of the sustained activation of immediate early genes encoding transcription factors, such as jun and c-fos.

Temozolomide induced differentiation of K562 leukemia cells is not mediated by gene hypomethylation

Temozolomide (8-carbamoyl-3-methylimidazo[5,1d]-1,2,3,5-tetrazin-4-(3H)-one), an experimental antitumor agent which spontaneously decomposes to 5-(3,3-methyl-1-triazeno) imidazole-4-carboxamide, the active metabolite of the antineoplastic drug DTIC, causes erythroid differentiation of K562 leukemia cells. The increase in ε and γ globin gene expression after temozolomide treatment does not appear to be due to drug-induced hypomethylation of the genes. In other genes containing many methylated sequences such as the proto-oncogenes c-myc and C-Ha-ras, temozolomide caused no detectable change in methylation. In contrast, in the same genes 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine induced hypomethylation. Temozolomide caused DNA alkali-labile sites and an arrest of the cell cycle in G2 phase. Ethazolastone (its 3-ethylimidazo analogue) which does not cause differentiation of K562 produced no significant DNA damage and G2 phase blockade. DNA damage rather than hypomethylation may be responsible for induction of differentiation.

Enhanced expression of transforming growth factor beta during megakaryoblastic differentiation of K562 leukemia cells

Platelet alpha granules contain several growth factors such as the transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) that are released during blood clotting and are thought to participate in the repair of tissue injury; however, the site of synthesis of platelet TGF-beta has not been demonstrated. We studied TGF-beta expression during megakaryoblastic differentiation of the chronic myeloid leukemia cell line K562 in vitro. These cells have mainly erythroid characteristics but acquire several megakaryoblastic properties when treated with the phorbol diester 12-0-tetradecanoyl-13-phorbolacetate (TPA). During four subsequent days of megakaryoblastic differentiation the amount of the 2.5-kilobase (kb) TGF-beta mRNA increased about eightfold, and a novel 2.3-kb mRNA species was induced in the K562 cells. This occurred concomitantly with distinct induction patterns of platelet-derived growth factor A (PDGF-A) and c-sis (PDGF-B chain) RNAs and several platelet antigens. The expression of erythroid markers such as glycophorin A decreased. Culture media of TPA-differentiated K562 cells also contained TGF-beta polypeptides as shown by a sensitive radioreceptor assay and by immunoprecipitation after metabolic labeling of the cells. These polypeptides were not seen in culture media from dimethyl sulfoxide- or sodium butyrate-treated cells. Unlike in several other cells, exogenously added TGF-beta 1 or 2 affected neither TGF-beta nor PDGF RNA expression in K562 cells.

Enhanced Expression of Transforming Growth Factor β During Megakaryoblastic Differentiation of K562 Leukemia Cells

Abstract Platelet alpha granules contain several growth factors such as the transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) that are released during blood clotting and are thought to participate in the repair of tissue injury; however, the site of synthesis of platelet TGF-beta has not been demonstrated. We studied TGF-beta expression during megakaryoblastic differentiation of the chronic myeloid leukemia cell line K562 in vitro. These cells have mainly erythroid characteristics but acquire several megakaryoblastic properties when treated with the phorbol diester 12–0-tetradecanoyl-13-phorbolacetate (TPA). During four subsequent days of megakaryoblastic differentiation the amount of the 2.5-kilobase (kb) TGF-beta mRNA increased about eightfold, and a novel 2.3-kb mRNA species was induced in the K562 cells. This occurred concomitantly with distinct induction patterns of platelet-derived growth factor A (PDGF-A) and c-sis (PDGF-B chain) RNAs and several platelet antigens. The expression of erythroid markers such as glycophorin A decreased. Culture media of TPA-differentiated K562 cells also contained TGF-beta polypeptides as shown by a sensitive radioreceptor assay and by immunoprecipitation after metabolic labeling of the cells. These polypeptides were not seen in culture media from dimethyl sulfoxide- or sodium butyrate-treated cells. Unlike in several other cells, exogenously added TGF-beta 1 or 2 affected neither TGF- beta nor PDGF RNA expression in K562 cells.

Artificial Capillary Culture Studies of Human Tumor Cell Growth, Differentiation, and Marker Production<xref ref-type="fn" rid="FN2">2</xref>

The morphological characteristics and the production of biochemical markers were determined for 8 human tumor cell lines grown in artificial capillary culture. Comparisons were made with nude mouse xenografts and conventional monolayer or suspension cultures. Capillary histologies reproduced the features of neoplastic differentiation and glandular formation exhibited by the original human tumors and xenografts. The concentrations of specific biochemical markers, such as carcinoembryonic antigen, aspartate aminotransferase, and immunoglobulin, were higher in the pericellular culture medium in capillary culture. The capillary environment influenced the expression of biochemical heterogeneity by the DLD-1 colon carcinoma cell line and its derivative clones. Spontaneous differentiation of K562 leukemia cells was increased in the capillary system. These results indicate that the artificial capillary is a useful and relevant system for the study of cultured human tumor cells.