Effects of antineoplastic phospholipids on parameters of cell differentiation in U937 cells

Summary The proliferation of the human promonocytic leukemia cell line U937 is inhibited by several ether lipids, ether lipid analogues and by phorbol esters. An early effect of this retardation of cell growth is the induction of a basic chromosomal protein, histone H1⁰. Northern blot analysis of H1⁰ mRNA levels reveals an increase of the mRNA concentration within a few hours after addition of hexadecylphosphocholine and 1-O-octadecyl-2-O-methyl-rac-glycero-3-phosphocholine. This early effect on the synthesis of a subtype of H1 proteins precedes the expression of several parameters of the monocytic differentiation of U937 cells.Abbreviations ES-16-OH 1-O-palmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine - ET-18-OCH₃ 1-O-octadecyl-2-O-methyl-rac-glycero-3-phosphocholine - He-PC hexadecylphosphocholine - TPA 12-O-tetraclecanoylphorbol 13-acetate - He-PC₆ hexadecylphospho(N,N,N-trimethylamino)-hexanolDedicated to Professor Dr. D. Schmähl on the occasion of his 65th birthdaySupported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (D.D.) and the Ministry for Research and Technology (C.U.)