A myeloid cell line, designated PL-21, was established from the peripheral blood of a patient with acute promyelocytic leukemia. The PL-21 cell line grew in single-cell suspension, with a doubling time of 48-64 hr, and consisted of promyelocytes with fine immature nuclei and prominent azurophilic granules in the cytoplasm. PL-21 cells were positive for peroxidase, naphthol AS-D chloroacetate esterase, and Sudan Black B staining. Under the usual culture conditions, a small proportion of these cells differentiated into mature granulocytes, and this differentiation was enhanced by the addition of dimethyl sulfoxide in the culture medium. PL-21 cells had receptors for the Fc portion of IgG and complement, intracytoplasmic lysozyme and phagocytic activity, but lacked Epstein-Barr virus-associated nuclear antigen. Chromosome analysis of this cell line revealed a human male polyploid karyotype with 13q+ and double minute chromosomes. This new myeloid cell line may provide useful material for the study of proliferation and differentiation of human leukemia cells.