Characteristic Expression of Glycosphingolipid Profiles in the Bipotential Cell Differentiation of Human Promyelocytic Leukemia Cell

Changes of glycosphingolipids (GSLs) in the bipotential cell differentiation of human promyelocytic leukemia cell line HL-60 cells were investigated by high-performance thinlayer chromatography (HPTLC). with special reference to morphological and functional changes, such as phagocytosis and nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) reduction. Nine molecular species of neutral GSLs and 1 3 or more species of sialo-GSLs. ie. gangliosides, were detected on the HPTLC chromatograms for untreated HL-60 cells. The major cornponents were ceramide dihexoside (CDH). GM3, and sialoparagloboside (SPG). When HL-60 cells were induced to differentiate into both rnyeloid mature cells and macrophage-like cells in vitro. no new molecular species of GSLs specific for one of the cell differentiations was induced. but distinctive quantitative changes in the GSL composition were definitely observed between the two cell differentiations. During the myeloid differentiation induced by either dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) or retinoic acid (RA). CDH. paragloboside (PG). and gangliosides having longer sugar moieties characteristically increased with a concomitant