Establishment and characterization of a new granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor-dependent and interleukin-3-dependent human acute myeloid leukemia cell line (GF-D8).

A novel factor-dependent human myeloid leukemia cell line (GF-D8) was established from the peripheral blood of an 82-year-old man suffering from acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML). By morphology, cytochemical staining, and analysis of surface antigens, GF-D8 cells are myeloblasts of immature progenitor origin. The consensus karyotype is 45, XY, -5, 7q-, inv(7) (q31.2q36), 8q+, +8q+, 11q+, 12p-, -15, -17, + marker. The long-term survival and proliferation of GF-D8 cells is dependent on the presence of either granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) or interleukin-3 (IL-3). Weak colony growth was observed after exposure of GF-D8 cells to stem cell factor (SCF) but not after exposure to granulocyte-CSF (G-CSF), macrophage-CSF (M-CSF), IL-1 beta, IL-2, IL-5, or tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). GM-CSF- and IL-3-induced proliferation is dose dependent, with significant growth observed at concentrations as low as 0.1 ng/mL, but the combination of both factors has no synergistic effect. A significant proliferation is induced by GM-CSF and IL-3 even in serum-deprived cultures, although with a slightly decreased efficiency. GF-D8 cells were shown to express specific messenger RNAs for the alpha chains of the GM-CSF and IL-3 receptors as well as for the beta chain, common to both receptors. Interestingly, despite the absence of biologic response to G-CSF, specific transcripts for the G-CSF receptor gene were similarly identified by reverse polymerase chain reaction analysis. GF-D8 cells represent a useful tool for studying chromosome abnormalities of human AML as well as the regulation of myeloid proliferation and differentiation in vitro.