Activation of the proto-oncogenes c-fos, c-fms, and c-sis has been associated with monocytic differentiation. In the present study, we monitored the relationship of c-myc, c-fos, c-fms, and c-sis expression to interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma)-induced monocytic differentiation of human HL-60 promyelocytic leukemia cells. Treatment of HL-60 cells with 500 U/ml IFN-gamma arrested cell proliferation after 3 days. Appearance of the monocytic phenotype was manifested within 24 hr of IFN-gamma exposure by: increased nitroblue tetrazolium reduction; increased cell surface expression of the HLA-DR, Mo1, and MY4 antigens; and induction of transcripts for the second component of complement (C2) and tumor necrosis factor. In contrast, c-myc expression decreased as a later event after 72 hr of IFN-gamma exposure, and c-fos transcripts remained undetectable until 5 days of treatment. Furthermore, c-fms RNA and transcripts for the macrophage marker apolipoprotein E were induced only after 7 days. Finally, expression of the c-sis proto-oncogene at the RNA and protein levels remained undetectable after induction with IFN-gamma. These findings would thus suggest that declines in c-myc RNA, as well as induction of c-fos, c-fms, and c-sis expression, are not requisite events in the commitment of HL-60 cells to IFN-gamma-induced monocytic differentiation. Expression of c-fos and c-fms, however, is associated with acquisition of markers associated with maturation to macrophages.