Control of normal differentiation of myeloid leukemic cells to macrophages and granulocytes.

Cells from a myeloid leukemic line in culture can be induced by the differentiation-inducing protein MGI to form colonies with normal differentiation to mature macrophages and granulocytes. This line consisted of clones that can be induced to undergo normal cell differentiation (D(+) clones) and clones (D(-) clones) that were not inducible. D(+) clones were able to undergo differentiation to both macrophages and granulocytes. Normal differentiation was induced even in clones that were no longer diploid. D(+) clones can segregate some D(-) progeny, and D(-) clones can segregate some D(+) progeny. This, therefore, provides a system for studies on the genetic and chemical control of cell differentiation in leukemic cells.