Inhibition of PCGF2 enhances granulocytic differentiation of acute promyelocytic leukemia cell line HL-60 via induction of HOXA7

► We tested the role of PRC1 in the granulocytic differentiation of human APL cells. ► PCGF2 expression was reduced during ATRA-mediated differentiation of HL-60 cells. ► PCGF2 knockdown induced differentiation of HL-60 cells via de-repression of HOXA7. ► Direct binding of Pcgf2 protein to HOXA7 chromatin was reduced by PCGF2 knockdown. ► PCGF2 plays a negative role in the granulocytic differentiation of human HL-60 cells.