Embryolethality in rats caused by retinoic acid

Retinoic acid (25 mg/kg) administered by gavage to rats at 216 hours of gestation killed almost all conceptuses by 288 hours and all by full term. The embryolethal dose50 was 12.3 mg/kg. Embryos died from damage to the allantois leading to agenesis or hypogenesis of the chorioallantoic placenta. Suppression of cell division in, disturbed fluid entry into, and impaired normal vascularization of the allantois underlay the abnormality, the predominant element depending principally on when exposure occurred. Hydremia (Br. J. Exp. Pathol., 57:525-541, '76) affected over 50% of the sacs. Relating data from the literature to resorption patterns suggested that 25 mg/kg of retinoic acid raised a lethotoxic level (approximately 2 micrograms/ml) of retinoate in the plasma for about 5 hours. This, together with asynchronous development, was used to help explain why groups of embryos responded to the teratogen for 18 hours longer than single embryos and why exposure 18 hours before the allantois on average appears, killed some young. Comparison showed that retinoic acid was 4.8 times as embryolethal as retinol. Otherwise, each behaved qualitatively similarly, suggesting that either retinol acts through retinoic acid or via a common path entered independently by each. Placental agenesis is well documented in Soviet literature. It is almost unknown in Western teratology even though it is probably the most important cause of embryonal death following teratogenic procedures around the time of placentation.     

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.     

Unbinding of retinoic acid from the retinoic acid receptor by random expulsion molecular dynamics

Unbinding pathways of retinoic acid (RA) bound to retinoic acid receptor (RAR) have been explored by the random expulsion molecular dynamics (REMD) method. Our results show that RA may exit the binding site of RAR through flexible regions close to the H1-H3 loop and beta-sheets, without displacing H12 from its agonist position. This result may explain kinetic differences between agonist and antagonist ligands observed for other nuclear receptors. The extended and flexible structure of RA initiated a methodological study in a simplified two-dimensional model system. The REMD force should in general be distributed to all atoms of the ligand to obtain the most unbiased results, but for a ligand which is tightly bound in the binding pocket through a strong electrostatic interaction, application of the REMD force on a single atom is preferred.     

Identification of synthetic retinoids with selectivity for human nuclear retinoic acid receptor gamma.

The action of retinoids on gene regulation is mediated by three distinct nuclear retinoic acid receptor (RAR) subtypes called RAR alpha, beta and gamma. Since RAR gamma is predominantly expressed in adult skin, specific ligands for this subtype could (i) represent valuable tools to evaluate the biological role of RAR gamma in skin and (ii) provide therapeutic entities with a higher therapeutic index at lower teratogenic risk. Using in vitro binding studies and a functional transactivation assay, we have identified three compounds with high RAR gamma selectivity.     

Vitamin A deficiency alters rat lung alveolar basement membrane Reversibility by retinoic acid

Vitamin A is essential for lung development and pulmonary cell differentiation and its deficiency results in alterations of lung structure and function. Basement membranes (BMs) are also involved in those processes, and retinoic acid, the main biologically active form of vitamin A, influences the expression of extracellular matrix macromolecules. Therefore, we have analyzed the ultrastructure and collagen content of lung alveolar BM in growing rats deficient in vitamin A and the recovering effect of all-trans retinoic acid. Male weanling pups were fed a retinol-adequate or -deficient diet until they were 60 days old. A group of vitamin A-deficient pups were recovered by daily intraperitoneal injections of all-trans retinoic acid for 10 days. Alveolar BM in vitamin A-deficient rats doubled its thickness and contained irregularly scattered collagen fibrils. Immunocytochemistry revealed that these fibrils were composed of collagen I. Total content of both collagen I protein and its mRNA was greater in vitamin-deficient lungs. In agreement with the greater size of the BM the amount of collagen IV was also increased. Proinflammatory cytokines, IL-1α, IL-1β and TNF-α, did not change, but myeloperoxidase and TGF-β1 were increased. Treatment of vitamin A-deficient rats with retinoic acid reversed all the alterations, but the BM thickness recovered only partially. Retinoic acid recovering activity occurred in the presence of increasing oxidative stress. In conclusion, vitamin A deficiency results in alterations of the structure and composition of the alveolar BM which are probably mediated by TGF-β1 and reverted by retinoic acid. These alterations could contribute to the impairment of lung function and predispose to pulmonary disease.     

Targeted disruption of retinoic acid receptor alpha (RAR alpha) and RAR gamma results in receptor-specific alterations in retinoic acid-mediated differentiation and retinoic acid metabolism.

F9 embryonic teratocarcinoma stem cells differentiate into an epithelial cell type called extraembryonic endoderm when treated with retinoic acid (RA), a derivative of retinol (vitamin A). This differentiation is presumably mediated through the actions of retinoid receptors, the RARs and RXRs. To delineate the functions of each of the different retinoid receptors in this model system, we have generated F9 cell lines in which both copies of either the RAR alpha gene or the RAR gamma gene are disrupted by homologous recombination. The absence of RAR alpha is associated with a reduction in the RA-induced expression of both the CRABP-II and Hoxb-1 (formerly 2.9) genes. The absence of RAR gamma is associated with a loss of the RA-inducible expression of the Hoxa-1 (formerly Hox-1.6), Hoxa-3 (formerly Hox-1.5), laminin B1, collagen IV (alpha 1), GATA-4, and BMP-2 genes. Furthermore, the loss of RAR gamma is associated with a reduction in the metabolism of all-trans-RA to more polar derivatives, while the loss of RAR alpha is associated with an increase in metabolism of RA relative to wild-type F9 cells. Thus, each of these RARs exhibits some specificity with respect to the regulation of differentiation-specific gene expression. These results provide an explanation for the expression of multiple RAR types within one cell type and suggest that each RAR has specific functions.     

Escobar syndrome is a prenatal myasthenia caused by disruption of the acetylcholine receptor fetal gamma subunit

Escobar syndrome is a form of arthrogryposis multiplex congenita and features joint contractures, pterygia, and respiratory distress. Similar findings occur in newborns exposed to nicotinergic acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibodies from myasthenic mothers. We performed linkage studies in families with Escobar syndrome and identified eight mutations within the gamma -subunit gene (CHRNG) of the AChR. Our functional studies show that gamma -subunit mutations prevent the correct localization of the fetal AChR in human embryonic kidney-cell membranes and that the expression pattern in prenatal mice corresponds to the human clinical phenotype. AChRs have five subunits. Two alpha, one beta, and one delta subunit are always present. By switching gamma to epsilon subunits in late fetal development, fetal AChRs are gradually replaced by adult AChRs. Fetal and adult AChRs are essential for neuromuscular signal transduction. In addition, the fetal AChRs seem to be the guide for the primary encounter of axon and muscle. Because of this important function in organogenesis, human mutations in the gamma subunit were thought to be lethal, as they are in gamma -knockout mice. In contrast, many mutations in other subunits have been found to be viable but cause postnatally persisting or beginning myasthenic syndromes. We conclude that Escobar syndrome is an inherited fetal myasthenic disease that also affects neuromuscular organogenesis. Because gamma expression is restricted to early development, patients have no myasthenic symptoms later in life. This is the major difference from mutations in the other AChR subunits and the striking parallel to the symptoms found in neonates with arthrogryposis when maternal AChR auto-antibodies crossed the placenta and caused the transient inactivation of the AChR pathway.     

Regulation of CD8+ T lymphocyte effector function and macrophage inflammatory cytokine production by retinoic acid receptor gamma

Vitamin A and its derivatives regulate a broad array of immune functions. The effects of these retinoids are mediated through members of retinoic acid receptors (RARs) and retinoid X receptors. However, the role of individual retinoid receptors in the pleiotropic effects of retinoids remains unclear. To dissect the role of these receptors in the immune system, we analyzed immune cell development and function in mice conditionally lacking RARgamma, the third member of the RAR family. We show that RARgamma is dispensable for T and B lymphocyte development, the humoral immune response to a T-dependent Ag and in vitro Th cell differentiation. However, RARgamma-deficient mice had a defective primary and memory CD8(+) T cell response to Listeria monocytogenes infection. Unexpectedly, RARgamma-deficient macrophages exhibited impaired inflammatory cytokine production upon TLR stimulation. These results suggest that under physiological condition, RARgamma is a positive regulator of inflammatory cytokine production.     

The potential signaling pathway between peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma and retinoic acid receptor alpha in renal interstitial fibrosis disease

Abstract

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptorγ (PPARγ) can regulate the process of cell apoptosis and is related to the progression of renal disorders. Retinoic acid receptor alpha (RARα) is one of the nuclear receptors involved in a variety of kidney diseases. Renal interstitial fibrosis (RIF) is a common denominator of chronic kidney disease (CKD). This study investigated whether a potential signaling pathway existed between PPARγ and RARα in RIF rats with unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO). The rats were randomly divided into four groups: a model group subjected to UUO (GU), and three other groups treated with rosiglitazone sodium (GRS), GW9662 and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), n?=?40, respectively. Renal tissues were collected two and four weeks after post-surgery. The relevant indicators were detected. In comparison with the GU group, the expressions of PPARγ and RARα (protein and mRNA) were increased in the GRS group, and decreased in the GW9662 group (all p?<?0.01). The RIF index, mRNA and protein expression of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), and the protein expressions of collagen-IV (Col-IV) and fibronectin (FN) in the GRS group were more markedly reduced than those in the GU group; their levels in the GW9662 group were elevated (all p?<?0.01). PPARγ or RARα was negatively correlated to the RIF index, TGF-β1, Col-IV and FN. PPARγ was positively correlated with RARα (all p?<?0.01). In conclusion, PPARγ agonist can elevate the expression of PPARγ or RARα in RIF rats. There might be a potential signaling pathway between PPARγ and RARα in RIF disease.     

Cyclic AMP analogs and retinoic acid influence the expression of retinoic acid receptor alpha, beta, and gamma mRNAs in F9 teratocarcinoma cells.

Retinoic acid (RA) receptor alpha (RAR alpha) and RAR gamma steady-state mRNA levels remained relatively constant over time after the addition of RA to F9 teratocarcinoma stem cells. In contrast, the steady-state RAR beta mRNA level started to increase within 12 h after the addition of RA and reached a 20-fold-higher level by 48 h. This RA-associated RAR beta mRNA increase was not prevented by protein synthesis inhibitors but was prevented by the addition of cyclic AMP analogs. In the presence of RA, cyclic AMP analogs also greatly reduced the RAR alpha and RAR gamma mRNA levels, even though cyclic AMP analogs alone did not alter these mRNA levels. The addition of either RA or RA plus cyclic AMP analogs did not result in changes in the three RAR mRNA half-lives. These results suggest that agents which elevate the internal cyclic AMP concentration may also affect the cellular response to RA by altering the expression of the RARs.     

Identification of a novel isoform of the retinoic acid receptor gamma expressed in the mouse embryo.

Retinoic acid is known to have profound effects on developmental processes. It has been implicated as a putative morphogen in the developing chick limb bud and regenerating amphibian limb blastema and has been demonstrated to have powerful teratogenic effects in mammals, including humans. Recently, three specific retinoic acid receptors (RARs), RAR alpha, -beta, and -gamma, were identified and shown to be members of the steroid receptor superfamily. We report the identification of a novel RAR gamma isoform, mRAR gamma B, which differs from the previously described mouse RAR gamma at its amino terminus. In addition, we show that both RAR gamma isoforms are expressed maximally at midgestation in structures known to be affected adversely by retinoic acid administration to pregnant mice. Multiple RAR isoforms, each of which may play a unique or combinatorial role as a regulator of mammalian development, are thus expressed in the mouse embryo.