Nuclear translocation of the 1,25D3-MARRS (membrane associated rapid response to steroids) receptor protein and NFkappaB in differentiating NB4 leukemia cells.

1,25 Dihydroxyvitamin D(3) (1,25D(3)) primes NB4 promyelocytic leukemia cells to differentiate along the monocyte/macrophage lineage through a non-genomic mechanism. Here we show that NB4 cells express high levels of the recently identified membrane receptor for 1,25D(3), which is a distinct gene product from the classical nuclear vitamin D receptor. This 57 kDa protein, named 1,25D(3)-MARRS (Membrane Activated Rapid Response to Steroids)/ERp57/PIA3 appears to associate in a complex with the transcription factor, nuclear factor kappa B (NFkappaB).