Objective: This study concerns expression of PBK/TOPK during differentiation of HL-60 leukemic cells induced by tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate (TPA).
Methods: Wright-Giemsa staining was performed to observe morphological changes in the HL-60 cells, and flow cytometry was used to assess the cell cycle and CD11b, CD14, CD13, and CD33 expression. PBK/TOPK levels were determined by Western blot analysis.
Results: After treating HL60 cells with 5.1×10⁻⁹ mmol/L of TPA for three days, the number of nitroblue-tetrazolium-positive cells and CD11b, CD13, and CD14 expression increased, whereas the PBK/TOPK levels decreased.
Conclusions: TPA can inhibit proliferation and induce differentiation of HL60 cells of the granulocytic or monocytic lineage. PBK/TOPK expression was downregulated during this process, whereas the Pho-PBK/TOPK expression was increased.