The in vitro action of recombinant human leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) and 1-beta-D arabinofuranosylcytosine (ara-C) was studied on the human leukemia cell line U 937. Parameters investigated included monitoring of transcript levels of the proto-oncogenes C-MYC, C-FOS, and C-FMS, and analysis of nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) reduction and of surface expression of the C3 bi receptor. Furthermore clonal proliferation of U 937 cells was assessed in soft agar cultures. The results indicate that both agents have only little effects on U 937 cells when acting alone. When combined in culture, however, they synergize to induce monocytic differentiation of U 937 cells as disclosed by significant increase of cells capable of reducing NBT and displaying surface C3 bi receptor that was accompanied by reduction of clonogenicity in colony assays. Induction of differentiation and inhibition of proliferation of U 937 cells was preceded by downregulation of transcript levels of C-MYC, increase of C-FOS mRNA, and induction of accumulation of C-FMS mRNA. By sequential use of LIF and ara-C we also demonstrate that the basis of synergism of both agents does not involve mechanisms at the level of receptor ligation but that synergism may be initiated by complementary intracellular metabolic cascades.