Translocation of transcription regulators into the nucleus during granulocyte commitment of HL-60 cells

Expression of transcription factors required for lineage commitment of differentiating cells (C/EBPβ and c-Myb) and for survival of differentiated cells (STATs and NFκB) was examined in the HL-60 cell line. Differentiation was induced by treating the cells with retinoic acid. c-Myb expression in the nucleus restored at the precommitment stage (18 h) what concurred with the highest nuclear level of C/EBPβ, which suggests a combinatorial interaction of these transcription factors in the granulocytic signalling pathway. Expression of STAT5a and STAT5b varied during differentiation, whereas no significant changes were seen in STAT3 levels. Increased cytosolic level of NFκB p65 during precommitment and commitment stages of granulocytic differentiation coincided with augmentation of the STAT5a protein level, which could be evidence of their possible cooperation during granulocytic-lineage commitment of HL-60 cells. Our results suggest that the studied transcription factors cooperatively promote signalling in the differentiating promyelocytic HL-60 cell line in response to retinoic acid.Key words: C/EBP, Myb, STAT, NFκB, phosphorylation.