We have established a novel cell line,designated as TF-1,from a patient with erythroleukemia,which showed complete growth dependency on granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) or on interleukin-3 (IL-3) and carried a homogeneous chromosomal abnormality (54X). Erythropoietin (EPO) also sustained the short-term growth of TF-1,but did not induce erythroid differentiation. These three hematopoietic growth factors acted on TF-1 synergistically. Transforming growth factor-beta and interferons inhibited the factor-dependent growth of TF-1 cells in a dose-dependent fashion,and monocyte-colony stimulating factor and interkeukin-1 enhanced the GM-CSF-dependent growth of TF-1. Ultrastructural studies revealed some very immature features in this cell line. Although TF-1 cells do not express glycophorin A or carbonyl anhydrase I,the morphological and cytochemical features,and the constitutive expression of globin genes,indicate the commitment of TF-1 to erythroid lineage. When induced to differentiate,TF-1 entered two different pathways. Specifically,hemin and delta-aminolevulinic acid induced hemoglobin synthesis,whereas TPA induced dramatic differentiation of TF-1 into macrophage-like cells. In summary,TF-1 is a cell line of immature erythroid origin that requires GM-CSF,IL-3,or EPO for its growth and that has the ability to undergo differentiation into either more mature erythroid cells or into macrophage-like cells. TF-1 is a useful tool for analyzing the human receptors for IL-3,GM-CSF,and EPO or the signal transduction of these hemopoietic growth factors.
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