Prostaglandin production by human promyelocytic leukemia (HL-60) cells

A comparative analysis of prostaglandin production was carried out on human promyelocytic leukemia (HL-60) cells treated with either PMA or DMSO. When incubated with [l-¹⁴C]arachidonic acid these cells produced significant amounts of 6-keto prostaglandin F(1α), thromboxane B₂, prostaglandin F(2α), prostaglandin E₂, prostaglandin D₂ and 12-hydroxy-5,8,10-heptadecatrienoic acid via the cyclooxygenase pathway. The major cyclooxygenase metabolite synthesized by these cells was prostaglandin F(2α). Its production increased significantly when the HL-60 cells were treated with PMA and decreased when treated with DMSO as compared to untreated control cells. This change in the production of prostaglandin F(2α) appears to reflect alterations in cyclooxygenase activity. Another unidentified arachidonic acid metabolite was routinely observed in C₁₈ high pressure liquid chromatography. The synthesis of this compound was inhibited by indomethacin. The unidentified metabolite was also seen in the human macrophage-like cell line U937.