HEL Cells: A New Human Erythroleukemia Cell Line with Spontaneous and Induced Globin Expression

Abstract

A new human erythroleukemia cell line has been established. This line, designated HEL, is capable of spontaneous and induced globin synthesis, producing mainly G gamma and A gamma chains. Embryonic chains (epsilon, zeta) and alpha chains are detectable in very small amounts; beta chains are undetectable. This line provides a new model system for studying aspects of erythroid cell differentiation and differential globin gene expression.