Liposome-associated retinoic acid. Increased in vitro antiproliferative effects on neoplastic cells

The activity of liposome-associated retinoic acid was analyzed on in vitro cultured tumor cell lines and compared to the antiproliferative effects of free retinoic acid. It was found that liposome-associated retinoic acid is about 300 times more active than free retinoic acid in inhibiting in vitro cell growth of leukemic and melanoma cell lines. An increased activity of retinoic acid (10-20 times) was also obtained after premixing of this compound with empty liposomes, demonstrating that the retinoic acid efficiently interacts with liposomes which may facilitate solubility and cell uptake of retinoids.     

A commentary on the inhibition by retinoids of leukotriene B4 production in leukocytes

The order of potency of retinoids as inhibitors of A23187-induced production of leukotriene B4 (LTB4) in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) was retinoic acid greater than retinal greater than retinol. However, the conversion of exogenous arachidonate (AA) to LTB4 by PMN homogenates was inhibited in the rank order retinol greater than retinal much greater than retinoic acid. The agreement between active concentrations of retinol in these two systems is consistent with this compound acting directly to inhibit AA metabolism: this is not so for the other retinoids. The order of potency for inhibition of phorbol dibutyrate (PDBu)-stimulated superoxide (O-2) production in HL60 granulocytes was retinol greater than retinoic acid much greater than retinal (inactive); neither retinol nor retinal displaced [3H]PDBu from HL60 cells. We conclude that inhibition of LTB4 production by retinoic acid and retinal is neither through inhibition of AA metabolism nor through inhibition of protein kinase C.     

Specificity in the synergism between retinoic acid and EGF on the growth of adult human skin fibroblasts

Vitamin A (retinol) and five retinoids were tested for their ability to enhance epidermal growth factor (EGF) stimulation of adult human skin fibroblast growth in vitro. The retinoids utilized in this study were RO-1-5488 (all-trans-retinoic acid), RO-4-3780 (13-cis-retinoic acid), RO-10-9359, RO-10-1670, and RO-21-6583. Retinol and each retinoid were capable of stimulating fibroblast growth alone (0-86%), while 13-cis and all-trans-retinoic acid were the most potent in potentiating the EGF promotion of fibroblast growth. Other growth factors tested in addition to EGF were nerve growth factor (NGF), fibroblast growth factor (FGF), and thrombin. While EGF and FGF stimulated fibroblast growth to the same degree (2.3-fold), only growth stimulated by EGF was potentiated by retinoic acid. Since retinoic acid might enhance the EGF stimulation of cell growth by increasing either EGF receptor number or binding affinity, the binding of 125I-labeled EGF was carried out in the presence of retinoic acid and the data were subjected to a Scatchard-type analysis. No change in EGF receptor number or affinity was seen in the presence of retinoic acid. The data indicate a specific interaction between retinoid acid and EGF which results in the potentiation of the EGF-stimulated cell growth. Furthermore, the mechanism of this interaction does not seem to involve the initial binding of EGF to its plasma membrane receptor or the available number of EGF receptors located on the cell surface.     

Expression of cellular retinoic acid binding protein (CRABP) in Escherichia coli. Characterization and evidence that holo-CRABP is a substrate in retinoic acid metabolism.

Cellular retinoic acid binding protein (CRABP) has been expressed efficiently in Escherichia coli from the cDNA of bovine adrenal CRABP and characterized, especially with respect to affinity for endogenous retinoids and a role for it in retinoic acid metabolism. The purified E. coli-expressed CRABP was similar to authentic mammalian CRABP in molecular weight (approximately 14,700), isoelectric point (4.76), absorbance maxima (apo-CRABP, 280 nm; holo-CRABP, 350 and 280 nm with the ratio A350/A280 = 1.8), and in fluorescence excitation (350 nm) and emission spectra (475 nm). The equilibrium dissociation constant, Kd, of E. coli-derived CRABP and all-trans-retinoic acid was 10 +/- 1 nM (mean +/- S.D., n = 4) by retinoid fluorescence and 7 +/- 1 nM (mean +/- S.D., n = 3) by quenching of protein fluorescence, but neither retinol nor retinal bound in concentrations as high as 7 microM. All-trans-cyclohexyl ring derivatives of retinoic acid (3,4-didehydro-, 4-hydroxy-, 4-oxo-, 16-hydroxy-4-oxo-, 18-hydroxy-) had affinities similar to that of all-trans-retinoic acid, whereas 13-cis-retinoic acid and 4-oxo-13-cis-retinoic acid had approximately 25-fold lower affinity. Holo-CRABP was a substrate for retinoic acid catabolism in rat testes microsomes by three criteria: 1) the rate of retinoic acid metabolism with CRABP in excess of retinoic acid exceeded the rate supported by the free retinoic acid; 2) increasing the apo-CRABP did not decrease the rate as predicted if free retinoic acid were the only substrate; and 3) holo-CRABP had a lower Michaelis constant (1.8 nM) for retinoic acid elimination than did free retinoic acid (49 nM). These data indicate a direct role for CRABP in retinoic acid metabolism and suggest a mechanism for discriminating metabolically between all-trans- and 13-cis-retinoids.     

Functional studies of newly synthesized benzoic acid derivatives: identification of highly potent retinoid-like activity

Three newly synthesized benzoic acid derivatives (terephthalic acid anilides, chalcone carboxylic acid, and azobenzene carboxylic acid), with a certain structural similarity to retinoic acid, were examined for their retinoid-like bioactivity and their capacity to bind to cellular retinoid binding proteins. Two in vitro systems were used to evaluate their retinoid-like bioactivity: inhibition of adipose conversion of ST 13 murine preadipose cells and growth promotion of murine sarcoma virus (MSV)-transformed 3T3 cells in serum-free culture. All three compounds tested inhibited ST 13 adipose conversion at nanomolar concentrations in a manner similar to classical retinoids such as retinoic acid. The growth-stimulating activity of these compounds on MSV-transformed 3T3 cells was one to two orders of magnitude greater than that of retinoic acid. Simultaneous treatment with these compounds and retinoic acid produced only a barely detectable additive effect, suggesting a common mechanism of action, whereas unrelated mitogens, thrombin, and insulin worked synergistically in combination with retinoic acid. None of the compounds competed with retinol for binding to cellular retinol binding protein. However, two of the three competed with retinoic acid for binding to cellular retinoic acid binding protein. This study provides evidence that the newly synthesized compounds should be included among the retinoids and that their strong biological activity will undoubtedly contribute to the biological and medical application of retinoids.     

Comparative functional analysis of human medium-chain dehydrogenases, short-chain dehydrogenases/reductases and aldo-keto reductases with retinoids

Retinoic acid biosynthesis in vertebrates occurs in two consecutive steps: the oxidation of retinol to retinaldehyde followed by the oxidation of retinaldehyde to retinoic acid. Enzymes of the MDR (medium-chain dehydrogenase/reductase), SDR (short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase) and AKR (aldo-keto reductase) superfamilies have been reported to catalyse the conversion between retinol and retinaldehyde. Estimation of the relative contribution of enzymes of each type was difficult since kinetics were performed with different methodologies, but SDRs would supposedly play a major role because of their low K(m) values, and because they were found to be active with retinol bound to CRBPI (cellular retinol binding protein type I). In the present study we employed detergent-free assays and HPLC-based methodology to characterize side-by-side the retinoid-converting activities of human MDR [ADH (alcohol dehydrogenase) 1B2 and ADH4), SDR (RoDH (retinol dehydrogenase)-4 and RDH11] and AKR (AKR1B1 and AKR1B10) enzymes. Our results demonstrate that none of the enzymes, including the SDR members, are active with CRBPI-bound retinoids, which questions the previously suggested role of CRBPI as a retinol supplier in the retinoic acid synthesis pathway. The members of all three superfamilies exhibit similar and low K(m) values for retinoids (0.12-1.1 microM), whilst they strongly differ in their kcat values, which range from 0.35 min(-1) for AKR1B1 to 302 min(-1) for ADH4. ADHs appear to be more effective retinol dehydrogenases than SDRs because of their higher kcat values, whereas RDH11 and AKR1B10 are efficient retinaldehyde reductases. Cell culture studies support a role for RoDH-4 as a retinol dehydrogenase and for AKR1B1 as a retinaldehyde reductase in vivo.     

Retinoic acid in development and regeneration

Retinoids are low molecular weight, lipophilic derivatives of vitamin A which have profound effects upon the development of various embryonic systems. Here I review the effects on developing and regenerating limbs, regenerating amphibian tails and the developing central nervous system (CNS). In the regenerating amphibian limb, retinoids can proximalize, posteriorize and ventralize the axes of the blastema. In the chick limb bud retinoids can only posteriorize the tissue. In the regenerating amphibian tail retinoids can homeotically transform tail tissue into hindlimb tissue. In the developing and regenerating limb retinoic acid has been detected endogenously, confirming that this molecule plays a role in the generation of pattern and we have shown that limbs cannot develop in the absence of retinoic acid. In the developing CNS retinoic acid specifically affects the hindbrain where it causes a transformation of anterior rhombomeres into more posterior ones. Again, endogenous retinoic acid has been detected in the CNS and in the absence of retinoids the posterior hindbrain has been found to be affected. The effects of retinoids on the CNS are most likely to be mediated via theHox genes acting in the mesoderm after gastrulation. It has also been proposed that the establishment of the head-to-tail axis in the mesoderm is established by retinoic acid. These data show that retinoids play an important role in both the development and regeneration of various systems in the embryo and post-embryonically     

Retinoids are produced by glia in the lateral ganglionic eminence and regulate striatal neuron differentiation

In order to identify molecular mechanisms involved in striatal development, we employed a subtraction cloning strategy to enrich for genes expressed in the lateral versus the medial ganglionic eminence. Using this approach, the homeobox gene Meis2 was found highly expressed in the lateral ganglionic eminence and developing striatum. Since Meis2 has recently been shown to be upregulated by retinoic acid in P19 EC cells (Oulad-Abdelghani, M., Chazaud, C., Bouillet, P., Sapin, V., Chambon, P. and Dollé, P. (1997) Dev. Dyn. 210, 173-183), we examined a potential role for retinoids in striatal development. Our results demonstrate that the lateral ganglionic eminence, unlike its medial counterpart or the adjacent cerebral cortex, is a localized source of retinoids. Interestingly, glia (likely radial glia) in the lateral ganglionic eminence appear to be a major source of retinoids. Thus, as lateral ganglionic eminence cells migrate along radial glial fibers into the developing striatum, retinoids from these glial cells could exert an effect on striatal neuron differentiation. Indeed, the treatment of lateral ganglionic eminence cells with retinoic acid or agonists for the retinoic acid receptors or retinoid X receptors, specifically enhances their striatal neuron characteristics. These findings, therefore, strongly support the notion that local retinoid signalling within the lateral ganglionic eminence regulates striatal neuron differentiation.     

Pharmacokinetic assessment of teratologically effective concentrations of an endogenous retinoic acid metabolite

Retinoic acid is a natural vitamin A derivative that undergoes oxidative metabolism in the body to yield several metabolites, which apparently represent the products of a detoxification pathway. To assess if such metabolic conversions diminished teratogenic potency, one of the major metabolites (4-oxo-all-trans-retinoic acid) was tested for its teratogenic activity in pregnant ICR mice and further investigated for its pharmacokinetic features to determine if it accumulated in the embryo in concentrations sufficient to elicit a teratogenic response. Administration of single oral doses (10, 25, 50, or 100 mg/kg) of the compound to ICR mice on day 11 of gestation (plug day = day 0) produced dose-dependent frequencies of serious fetal anomalies of the type usually associated with the use of retinoic acid and other retinoids. The metabolite was equivalent in teratogenic potency to retinoic acid, and, in the instance of cleft palate frequency, it was even more active. Concentrations of 4-oxo-all-trans-retinoic acid and its 13-cis isomer were measured in the maternal plasma and whole embryos at 30 min to 10 hr after administration of the lowest (10 mg/kg) and the highest (100 mg/kg) teratogenic dose of 4-oxo-all-trans-retinoic acid by means of high-performance liquid chromatography methodology. Distribution of the compound in the maternal system and transfer to the embryo occurred rapidly with either dose. Peak concentration in the maternal plasma and the embryo persisted for 3-4 hr after the higher dose but not with the lower dose; however, elimination kinetics for the two dose levels were similar.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Stimulation of interleukin 1 and 3 production by retinoic acid in vitro.

Retinoic acid and other retinoids stimulate or inhibit a number of immune responses, but their mechanism of action on immune cells is not fully understood. However, retinoids have been shown to inhibit interferon production, so they could act by influencing the production of lymphokines. Hence we have studied the effect of retinoic acid on the production of interleukins (ILs) 1 and 3 in vitro. Models for the production of ILs were the murine macrophage cell line P388D1 and human peripheral blood mononuclear cells for IL 1 and the murine WEHI-3 cell line for IL 3. Retinoic acid stimulated IL 1 release by P388D1 cells in a dose-related fashion, starting at 10(-9) M and maximally at 10(-8)-10(-6) M. With peripheral blood mononuclear cells a maximal stimulation of IL 1 release was observed with 10(-7) M-retinoic acid. IL 3 release by WEHI-3 cells was also stimulated by retinoic acid in a dose-related fashion. The maximal response was obtained with 10(-8) M-retinoic acid. These results show that retinoic acid, in physiological concentrations, exerts selective effects on interleukin production in vitro, and this stimulation of IL 1 and IL 3 release may explain some of the immunostimulatory effects of retinoids in vivo. Moreover, since IL 1 is known to influence connective tissues and bone, an increase in IL 1 might also explain some of the changes observed in these tissues in vitamin A poisoning and with high-dose retinoid therapy.     

Characterization of retinoic acid receptor-deficient keratinocytes

Retinoids are essential for normal epidermal growth and differentiation and show potential for the prevention or treatment of various epithelial neoplasms. The retinoic acid receptors (RARalpha, -beta, and -gamma) are transducers of the retinoid signal. The epidermis expresses RARgamma and RARalpha, both of which are potential mediators of the effects of retinoids in the epidermis. To further investigate the role(s) of these receptors, we derived transformed keratinocyte lines from wild-type, RARalpha, RARgamma, and RARalphagamma null mice and investigated their response to retinoids, including growth inhibition, markers of growth and differentiation, and AP-1 activity. Our results indicate that RARgamma is the principle receptor contributing to all-trans-retinoic acid (RA)-mediated growth arrest in this system. This effect partially correlated with inhibition of AP-1 activity. In the absence of RARs, the synthetic retinoid N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-retinamide inhibited growth; this was not observed with RA, 9-cis RA, or the synthetic retinoid (E)-4-[2-(5, 5, 8, 8 tetramethyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-2-naphthalenyl)-1-propenyl] benzoic acid. Finally, both RARalpha and RARgamma differently affected the expression of some genes, suggesting both specific and overlapping roles for the RARs in keratinocytes.     

Analysis of high dysmorphogenic activity of Ro 13-6307, a tetramethylated tetralin analog of retinoic acid.

Certain synthetic retinoids differ widely from retinoic acid (RA) in teratogenic potency, being much more or much less effective than RA. It is assumed that the potency of a retinoid may depend on the nature of its interaction with cellular binding components (nuclear retinoic acid receptors or cytoplasmic binding proteins) and, as in the case of retinoids that are mammalian teratogens, on factors that determine its accessibility to the embryo. To investigate some of the factors that contribute to potency, we used a new synthetic retinoid Ro 13-6307 that differs in structure from RA in having an aromatic ring inserted in its side chain along with gem dimethyl modification of the natural cyclohexenyl ring. Pregnant ICR mice were given a single oral dose (0, 1, or 10 mg/kg) on day 11 of gestation, and the resultant teratogenic outcome was monitored on day 17. Direct effects on cell differentiation were obtained by exposing high density cultures of limb bud mesenchymal cells to a range of concentrations (0.3 ng/ml-3 micrograms/ml) of Ro 13-6307 and scoring for chondrogenic suppression. Concentrations reaching the embryo after maternal administration of Ro 13-6307 were measured by HPLC to quantify the analog for a period of 4 h after administration of the oral dose. We found that this retinoid was 40-fold as active as RA in both inducing teratogenesis and suppressing chondrogenesis, yet its concentration in the affected embryo was only a fraction of that achieved after an equivalent dose of RA was employed in a similar protocol.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Simultaneous quantification of retinol, retinal, and retinoic acid isomers by high-performance liquid chromatography with a simple gradiation

A new method of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis to quantify isomers of retinol, retinal and retinoic acid simultaneously was established. The HPLC system consisted of a silica gel absorption column and a linear gradient with two kinds of solvents containing n-Hexane, 2-propanol, and glacial acetic acid in different ratios. It separated six retinoic acid isomers (13-cis, 9-cis, all-trans, all-trans-4-oxo, 9-cis-4-oxo, 13-cis-4-oxo), three retinal isomers (13-cis-, 9-cis-, and all-trans) and two retinol isomers (13-cis- and all-trans). Human serum samples were subjected to this HPLC analysis and at least, all-trans retinol, 13-cis retinol, and all-trans retinoic acid were detectable. This HPLC system is useful for evaluating retinoic acid formation from retinol via a two-step oxidation pathway. Moreover, it could be applied to monitoring the concentrations of various retinoids, including all-trans retinoic acid in human sera.     

Induction of differentiation of cultured human promyelocytic leukemia cells by retinoids

Human promyelocytic leukemia cells (HL-60) were induced to phagocytize, reduce NBT dye(nitroblue tetrazolium), and change into forms that were morphologically similar to mature granulocytes by retinoic acid and related retinoids, but not by the pyridyl analog of retinoic acid. Induction of differentiation could be detected after 4 days of treatment of the cells with retinoic acid at as low a dose as 4 × 10^?8 M. Thus, retinoids may be used in studies on the control of cell differentiation and malignancy of human myeloid leukemia cells.     

High-pressure liquid chromatographic determination of 13-cis-retinoic acid and all-trans-retinoic acid in human plasma

A simple and selective method is described for the determination of 13-cis-retinoic acid and all-trans-retinoic acid in plasma. The assay involves lyophilization of the sample, extraction of the residue with methanol, and separation of the retinoids by reverse-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography. The procedure can detect as little as 0.05 μg of either compound. It is capable of being readily modified to determine the amount of retinoic acid in other tissues as well as tissue concentrations of other retinoids. Using this assay, the absorption and disappearance from human plasma of an oral dose of 13-cis-retinoic acid have been followed.     

Retinoic acid induced suicidal erythrocyte death.

Vitamin A and retinoic acid have previously been shown to confer some protection against a severe course of malaria by fostering the phagocytosis of parasitized erythrocytes. Phagocytosis of erythrocytes is stimulated by phosphatidylserine exposure at the cell surface. The present study has thus been performed to explore the effect of retinoic acid and the specific retinoic acid receptor (RAR) agonist 4-(E-2-[5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-5,5,8,8-tetramethyl-2-naphthalenyl]-1-propenyl) benzoic acid (TTNPB) on erythrocyte annexin V binding, which reflects phosphatidylserine exposure at the cell surface. A 24 hours exposure to either, retinoic acid (3 microM) or TTNPB (3 microM), indeed significantly increased annexin binding, an effect paralleled by decrease of forward scatter reflecting cell shrinkage. According to Fluo3 fluorescence, exposure to either, retinoic acid (10 microM, 24 hours) or TTNPB (10 microM, 6 hours), significantly increased cytosolic Ca(2+)-activity, a known trigger of phosphatidylserine exposure. Infection of erythrocytes with Plasmodium falciparum increased phosphatidylserine exposure, an effect increased in the presence of TTNPB. In conclusion, retinoid acid and TTNPB trigger phosphatididylserine exposure and cell shrinkage of erythrocytes, typical features of suicidal erythrocyte death or eryptosis. The eryptosis could participate in the accelerated clearance of parasitized erythrocytes from circulating blood following treatment with retinoids.