Lipid Droplet Formation in Human Myeloid NB4 Cells Stimulated by All Trans Retinoic Acid and Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor: Possible Involvement of Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor

All trans retinoic acid (ATRA), a differentiation inducer for human myeloid NB4 cells, induced accumulation of lipid droplet as determined by positivity of Nile Red and Oil Red O in this cell line. Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), although not having detectable effect by itself, exerted the additive effects on lipid droplet formation in NB4 cells when combined with ATRA. mRNA analysis for peroxisome proliferatoractivated receptors (PPARs) revealed the initial transient downregulation followed by upregulation of the transcript for PPAR 2, a master molecule for adipogenesis, and upregulation of PPAR . BADGE, a synthetic antagonist for PPAR , potently inhibited lipid droplet formation in NB4 cells stimulated by ATRA and/or G-CSF, but not the functional differentiation of the cells by ATRA and/or G-CSF. These results suggest that ATRA and GCSF induce lipid droplet formation via certain PPAR -mediated specific mechanisms in human myeloid NB4 cells during functional differentiation.