Synthesis of apo-13- and apo-15-lycopenoids,cleavage products of lycopene that are retinoic acid antagonists

Consumption of the tomato carotenoid, lycopene, has been associated with favorable health benefits. Some of lycopene's biological activity may be due to metabolites resulting from cleavage of the lycopene molecule. Because of their structural similarity to the retinoic acid receptor (RAR) antagonist, β-apo-13-carotenone, the “first half” putative oxidative cleavage products of the symmetrical lycopene have been synthesized. All transformations proceed in moderate to good yield and some with high stereochemical integrity allowing ready access to these otherwise difficult to obtain terpenoids. In particular, the methods described allow ready access to the trans isomers of citral (geranial) and pseudoionone, important flavor and fragrance compounds that are not readily available isomerically pure and are building blocks for many of the longer apolycopenoids. In addition, all of the apo-11, apo-13, and apo-15 lycopenals/lycopenones/lycopenoic acids have been prepared. These compounds have been evaluated for their effect on RAR-induced genes in cultured hepatoma cells and, much like β-apo-13-carotenone, the comparable apo-13-lycopenone and the apo-15-lycopenal behave as RAR antagonists. Furthermore, molecular modeling studies demonstrate that the apo-13-lycopenone efficiently docked into the ligand binding site of RARα. Finally, isothermal titration calorimetry studies reveal that apo-13-lycopenone acts as an antagonist of RAR by inhibiting coactivator recruitment to the receptor.     

Evidence for species differences in the regulation of MMPs by all-trans retinoic acid in cytokine-stimulated chondrocytes

In inflammatory conditions, chondrocytes produce large amounts of matrix metalloproteases (MMP) and nitric oxide (NO) thought to contribute to joint degradation. We tested the ability of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA, a retinoic acid receptor (RAR) agonist) to modulate these inflammatory genes in chondrocytes from humans or rats, chosen as representative of animal models of arthritis. All RAR subtypes and RXR-alpha or -beta were expressed at the mRNA level in both species, although IL-1beta (10 ng/ml) inhibited RAR subtypes more markedly in rat than in human cells. ATRA (300 or 1000 nM) inhibited IL-1-induced expression of iNOS and nitrites level in both species, although the NO pathway was induced maximally in rat cells. ATRA displayed controversial effects on MMPs between rat and human chondrocytes, especially for MMP-9 expression. The effects of ATRA were irrelevant to the nuclear translocation of AP-1. The present data underlines that retinoids have a species-dependent impact on IL-1-induced responses in chondrocytes, suggesting that extrapolation of their pharmacological properties from animal cells has a poor relevance to clinical situation.     

CLA differently regulates adipogenesis in stromal vascular cells from porcine subcutaneous adipose and skeletal muscle

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), a mixture of isomers of linoleic acid, has previously been shown to be able to decrease porcine subcutaneous (SC) adipose tissue levels while increasing the count of intramuscular (IM) adipose tissue in vivo. However, the underlying mechanisms through which it acts are poorly understood. The objective of this study was to investigate the different effects of CLA on adipogenesis in cultured SC adipose tissue and IM stromal vascular cells obtained from neonatal pigs. As shown here, trans-10, cis-12 CLA decreased the expression of adipocyte-specific genes as well as adipose precursor cell numbers and the accumulation of lipid in cultured SC adipose tissue stromal vascular cells. However, the cis-9, trans-11 CLA did not alter adipogenesis in SC cultures. On the other hand, both CLA isomers increased the expression of adipocyte-specific genes in IM cultures, together with the increasing accumulation of lipid and Oil Red O-stained cells. Collectively, these data show that CLA decreases SC adipose tissue but increases IM adipose tissue by different regulation of adipocyte-specific gene expression. These results suggest that adipogenesis in IM adipocytes differs from that in SC adipocytes.     

Retinol-Binding Protein 4 and Its Membrane Receptor STRA6 Control Adipogenesis by Regulating Cellular Retinoid Homeostasis and Retinoic Acid Receptor α Activity

Retinoids are vitamin A (retinol) derivatives and complex regulators of adipogenesis by activating specific nuclear receptors, including the retinoic acid receptor (RAR) and retinoid X receptor (RXR). Circulating retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) and its membrane receptor STRA6 coordinate cellular retinol uptake. It is unknown whether retinol levels and the activity of RAR and RXR in adipocyte precursors are linked via RBP4/STRA6. Here, we show that STRA6 is expressed in precursor cells and, dictated by the apo- and holo-RBP4 isoforms, mediates bidirectional retinol transport that controls RARα activity and subsequent adipocyte differentiation. Mobilization of retinoid stores in mice by inducing RBP4 secretion from the liver activated RARα signaling in the precursor cell containing the stromal-vascular fraction of adipose tissue. Retinol-loaded holo-RBP4 blocked adipocyte differentiation of cultured precursors by activating RARα. Remarkably, retinol-free apo-RBP4 triggered retinol efflux that reduced cellular retinoids, RARα activity, and target gene expression and enhanced adipogenesis synergistically with ectopic STRA6. Thus, STRA6 in adipocyte precursor cells links nuclear RARα activity to the circulating RBP4 isoforms, whose ratio in obese mice was shifted toward limiting the adipogenic potential of their precursors. This novel cross talk identifies a retinol-dependent metabolic function of RBP4 that may have important implications for the treatment of obesity.     

Retinoic acid receptor signalling directly regulates osteoblast and adipocyte differentiation from mesenchymal progenitor cells

Low and high serum retinol levels are associated with increased fracture risk and poor bone health. We recently showed retinoic acid receptors (RARs) are negative regulators of osteoclastogenesis. Here we show RARs are also negative regulators of osteoblast and adipocyte differentiation. The pan-RAR agonist, all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), directly inhibited differentiation and mineralisation of early osteoprogenitors and impaired the differentiation of more mature osteoblast populations. In contrast, the pan-RAR antagonist, IRX4310, accelerated differentiation of early osteoprogenitors. These effects predominantly occurred via RARγ and were further enhanced by an RARα agonist or antagonist, respectively. RAR agonists similarly impaired adipogenesis in osteogenic cultures. RAR agonist treatment resulted in significant upregulation of the Wnt antagonist, Sfrp4. This accompanied reduced nuclear and cytosolic β-catenin protein and reduced expression of the Wnt target gene Axin2, suggesting impaired Wnt/β-catenin signalling. To determine the effect of RAR inhibition in post-natal mice, IRX4310 was administered to male mice for 10 days and bones were assessed by µCT. No change to trabecular bone volume was observed, however, radial bone growth was impaired. These studies show RARs directly influence osteoblast and adipocyte formation from mesenchymal cells, and inhibition of RAR signalling in vivo impairs radial bone growth in post-natal mice.     

Novel retinoic acid receptor alpha agonists for treatment of kidney disease

Development of pharmacologic agents that protect podocytes from injury is a critical strategy for the treatment of kidney glomerular diseases. Retinoic acid reduces proteinuria and glomerulosclerosis in multiple animal models of kidney diseases. However, clinical studies are limited because of significant side effects of retinoic acid. Animal studies suggest that all trans retinoic acid (ATRA) attenuates proteinuria by protecting podocytes from injury. The physiological actions of ATRA are mediated by binding to all three isoforms of the nuclear retinoic acid receptors (RARs): RARα, RARβ, and RARγ. We have previously shown that ATRA exerts its renal protective effects mainly through the agonism of RARα. Here, we designed and synthesized a novel boron-containing derivative of the RARα-specific agonist Am580. This new derivative, BD4, binds to RARα receptor specifically and is predicted to have less toxicity based on its structure. We confirmed experimentally that BD4 binds to RARα with a higher affinity and exhibits less cellular toxicity than Am580 and ATRA. BD4 induces the expression of podocyte differentiation markers (synaptopodin, nephrin, and WT-1) in cultured podocytes. Finally, we confirmed that BD4 reduces proteinuria and improves kidney injury in HIV-1 transgenic mice, a model for HIV-associated nephropathy (HIVAN). Mice treated with BD4 did not develop any obvious toxicity or side effect. Our data suggest that BD4 is a novel RARα agonist, which could be used as a potential therapy for patients with kidney disease such as HIVAN.     

Recent insights on the role and regulation of retinoic acid signaling during epicardial development

The vitamin A metabolite, retinoic acid, carries out essential and conserved roles in vertebrate heart development. Retinoic acid signals via retinoic acid receptors (RAR)/retinoid X receptors (RXRs) heterodimers to induce the expression of genes that control cell fate specification, proliferation, and differentiation. Alterations in retinoic acid levels are often associated with congenital heart defects. Therefore, embryonic levels of retinoic acid need to be carefully regulated through the activity of enzymes, binding proteins and transporters involved in vitamin A metabolism. Here, we review evidence of the complex mechanisms that control the fetal uptake and synthesis of retinoic acid from vitamin A precursors. Next, we highlight recent evidence of the role of retinoic acid in orchestrating myocardial compact zone growth and coronary vascular development.     

全反式维甲酸抑制猪脂肪间充质干细胞的成脂分化

分离培养猪脂肪间充质干细胞（adipose mesenchymal stem cells, AMSCs）,流式细胞仪鉴定其表面标记.利用MTT比色检测不同浓度的全反式维甲酸（all trans retinoic acid, ATRA）对猪AMSCs增殖的影响;光学显微镜下观察猪AMSCs向脂肪细胞分化的形态学变化;油红O染色提取法分析不同浓度ATRA对猪AMSCs成脂分化的影响;RT PCR检测脂肪细胞分化标志基因LPL和aP2 mRNA的变化.MTT比色结果显示,生理浓度（1×10^－9～1×10^－8 mol/L）和药理浓度（1×10^－7～1×10^－5 mol/L）ATRA对猪AMSCs增殖均没有影响.油红O染色提取法结果表明,除1×10^－7　mol/L ATRA对猪AMSCs成脂分化没有影响外,生理浓度（1×10^－9～1×10^－8 mol/L）和其它药理浓度（1×10^－6～1×10^－5 mol/L）ATRA均显著抑制猪AMSCs成脂分化（P<0.05）.RT-PCR检测显示,ATRA显著抑制脂肪细胞分化标志基因LPL和aP2 mRNA表达（P<0.05）.     

胃癌细胞中视黄酸受体抑制AP-1活性的不同方式

 研究胃癌细胞中视黄酸受体RARα和RARβ抑制活化蛋白 1(activatorprotein 1,AP 1)活性的不同方式及其与全反式视黄酸 (ATRA)作用的相关性 .瞬时转染RARβ表达载体到MKN 4 5细胞后 ,佛波脂 (TPA)诱导的AP 1活性受到明显抑制 ,且与RARβ浓度正相关 ,与ATRA存在与否无关 ;相反 ,RARα转染细胞后 ,对TPA诱导的AP 1活性的抑制不仅与RARα的浓度相关 ,而且依赖于AT RA .凝胶阻抑测定表明 ,TPA可以显著加强AP 1结合活性 ,当ATRA处理不表达RARβ和低表达RARα的MKN 4 5细胞后 ,AP 1结合活性不受影响 ;然而 ,表达RARα和RARβ的BGC 82 3细胞经AT RA处理后 ,TPA诱导的AP 1结合活性则受到抑制 .另外 ,分析与抗AP 1活性相关的RARβ功能区表明 ,DNA结合区的缺失导致RARβ抑制AP 1活性作用的丧失 ,而配体结合区对于RARβ抑制AP 1活性则是非必需的 .以上结果证实 ,有胃癌细胞中 ,RARβ可能是AP 1活性的抑制因子 ,RARα则可能是ATRA作用的靶向 .尽管它们的作用方式有所不同 ,但最终都可以通过抑制AP 1活性来抑制胃癌细胞生长     

The prevention of adipose differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells caused by retinoic acid is elicited through retinoic acid receptor alpha

Retinoids, especially all-trans retinoic acid (RA), have been shown to inhibit the differentiation of preadipose cells. It is important to human health, especially to obesity, that the regulatory system for the differentiation of adipocytes is well defined. Previously, we have shown that retinoic acid receptor (RAR) γ2 gene expression is up-regulated by RA in 3T3-L1 preadipose cells. In this study, the RAR system was dissected and the RA-regulated function in 3T3-L1 cells was assigned to one given receptor. We used three synthetic retinoids; (1) Ro 41–5253, a selective RAR α antagonist, (2) Ch 55, an RAR α, β and γ agonist, and (3) Am 80, an RAR α and β agonist, which has less affinity to RAR γ. Ro 41–5253 reverted RA-induced inhibition of the differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells. However, there was no significant reversion in RA-induced RAR γ mRNA level by treatment with Ro 41–5253. In the case of RAR agonists, both Am 80 and Ch 55 strongly inhibited the differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells. However, Am 80 weakly increased RAR γ mRNA content less than did Ch 55. These findings suggest, that RAR α is involved in the prevention of adipose differentiation by RA in 3T3-L1 cells. Moreover, there seems no causal relationship between the prevention of adipose differentiation by RA and the up-regulation of RAR γ2 gene expression by RA in 3T3-L1 cells. We have shown the functional heterogeneity of RA action through different RARs in 3T3-L1 cells.