This study describes the effects of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3[1,25(OH)2D3, calcitriol] analog, 1,25(OH)2-16ene-23yne-D3 on proliferatin and differentiatin of the human histiocytic lymphoma cell line U937. This paper also describes the effects of 1,25(OH)2-16ene-23yne-D3 on ${gamma}$-interferon(IFN-${gamma}$) synthesis by phytohemagglutinin-activated peripheral blood lymphocytes(PBLs). In the present investigation, 1,25(OH2)-16ene-23yne-D3 was compared to the natural metablite of vitamin D3, 1,25(OH)2D3. 1,25(OH)2-16ene-23yne-D3 was more potent than 1,25(OH)2D3 for inhibition of proliferation and induction of differentiation of U937 cells, Its effects on inhibition of proliferation was about 30-fold more potent than 1,25(OH)2D3. On induction of differentiation as measured by nonspecific esterase (NSE) activity and morphologic change, this analog morphologically and functionally differentiated U937 cells to monocyte-macrophage phenotype showing a decrease of N/C ration in Giemsa staining and the increase of adherence ability of surface. After 3 days in culture, a more significant supression of IFN-${gamma}$ synthesis analog on supression of IFN-${gamma}$ synthesis was a dose-dependent manner, with peak activity at 10-7M. The strong direct effects of 1,25(OH)2-16ene-23yne-D3 on cell proliferation and cell differentiation, make this compound an interesting candidate for clinical studies for several types of malignancies, and the effects on supression of IFN-${gamma}$ synthesis provide the further evidence for a role of 1,25(OH)2-16ene-23yne-D3 in immunoregulation.