Modification of lipid acyl groups by serum deprivation does not affect phorbol ester-induced differentiation of human leukemia cells.

12-O-Tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), a potent tumor promoter, can induce differentiation of human promyelocytic leukemia cells grown in a serum-free environment. Removal of serum produces altered acyl group composition of cellular phospholipids, most notably, marked decreases in the polyunsaturated fatty acid content. Although higher amounts of TPA are required to induce differentiation in serum-free cell populations, induction assessed by morphological and enzymatic markers in similar to the "macrophage-like' differentiated state reported for cells grown in a serum-rich medium.