Dystroglycan depletion inhibits the functions of differentiated HL-60 cells

• Dystroglycan is up-regulated in HL-60 chemically induced differentiation.
• βDgpY892 is mainly located in the nuclei of differentiated HL-60 cells.
• Dystroglycan is a key protein for maturation of HL-60 cells.
• Dystroglycan modulates actin cytoskeleton dynamics in HL-60 cells.

Dystroglycan has recently been characterized in blood tissue cells, as part of the dystrophin glycoprotein complex but to date nothing is known of its role in the differentiation process of neutrophils. We have investigated the role of dystroglycan in the human promyelocytic leukemic cell line HL-60 differentiated to neutrophils. Depletion of dystroglycan by RNAi resulted in altered morphology and reduced properties of differentiated HL-60 cells, including chemotaxis, respiratory burst, phagocytic activities and expression of markers of differentiation. These findings strongly implicate dystroglycan as a key membrane adhesion protein involved in the differentiation process in HL-60 cells.