Two stages of the differentiation of HL-60 cells induced by 1 alpha,25 dihydroxyvitamin D3; commitment by 1 alpha,25 dihydroxyvitamin D3 and promotion by DMSO.

The differentiation of HL-60 cells induced by 1 alpha,25 dihydroxyvitamin D3 was found to be separated into two stages, i.e. commitment and promotion. Most of the HL-60 cells were committed to monocyte/macrophage lineage by pretreatment with 1 alpha,25 dihydroxyvitamin D3 (5-50 ng/ml) for 18-24 hr. The promotion in the second stage was inducer and lineage independent; treatment with 1.25% DMSO for 2 or 3 days promoted the differentiation of the committed HL-60 cells by 1 alpha,25 dihydroxyvitamin D3 into monocyte/macrophage lineage, but not granulocyte lineage.