The treatment of human promyelocytic leukemia cell lines HL-60, and to some extent NB-4, with 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) (VD3) induces differentiation toward the monocytic/macrophage lineage, demonstrated by the increased expression of CD11b and CD14, and the production of opsonized zymosan particles (OZP)-stimulated reactive oxygen species (ROS). Moreover, in more sensitive HL-60 cells, increased expression of 5-lipoxygenase (5-LPO), Mcl-1, IkappaB, and c-Jun, accompanied by the activation of p38 MAPK, was detected. These VD3 effects on HL-60 cell differentiation were significantly potentiated by 5-LPO inhibitors MK-886 and AA-861 and were inverted by SB202190 (SB), a p38 MAPK inhibitor. The inhibition of differentiation by SB was demonstrated by a reduction of CD14 expression and by a decrease in OZP-activated ROS production. These results indicated that p38 MAPK pathway is involved in 5-LPO inhibitors-dependent potentiation of VD3-induced monocytic differentiation.