Time-course of butyric acid-induced differentiation in human K562 leukemic cell line: rapid increase in gamma-globin, porphobilinogen deaminase and NF-E2 mRNA levels

Butyric acid (BA) was shown to induce hemoglobinization of K562 cells in a dose-and time-dependent manner. The maximal differentiation (54% of hemoglobinized cells) was obtained with the 0.5 mM concentration, which induced a 60% inhibition of cell growth at day 3 without cytotoxicity. Parallel to the kinetics of hemoglobinization, a rapid increase in gamma-globin and porphobilinogen deaminase (PBGD) mRNAs was observed in BA-treated cells. This increase was time-dependent and higher for gamma-globin than for PBGD (six-and two-fold at day 3, respectively). In contrast, erythropoietin receptor mRNAs were not affected by BA treatment. Analysis of erythroid transcription factor mRNA levels during the time course of BA treatment showed, for the first time, an early and marked (up to three-fold) increase in p45 NF-E2 mRNA, contrasting with that of GATA-1 mRNA (<1.5-fold). Taken together, these results showed the rapid differentiating effect of BA and suggest the involvement of the NF-E2 transcription factor.