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Carazo A, Macáková K, Matoušová K, Krčmová LK, Protti M, Mladěnka P. Vitamin A Update: Forms, Sources, Kinetics, Detection, Function, Deficiency, Therapeutic Use and Toxicity. Nutrients 2021; 13:1703. [PMID: 34069881 PMCID: PMC8157347 DOI: 10.3390/nu13051703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Vitamin A is a group of vital micronutrients widely present in the human diet. Animal-based products are a rich source of the retinyl ester form of the vitamin, while vegetables and fruits contain carotenoids, most of which are provitamin A. Vitamin A plays a key role in the correct functioning of multiple physiological functions. The human organism can metabolize natural forms of vitamin A and provitamin A into biologically active forms (retinol, retinal, retinoic acid), which interact with multiple molecular targets, including nuclear receptors, opsin in the retina and, according to the latest research, also some enzymes. In this review, we aim to provide a complex view on the present knowledge about vitamin A ranging from its sources through its physiological functions to consequences of its deficiency and metabolic fate up to possible pharmacological administration and potential toxicity. Current analytical methods used for its detection in real samples are included as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Carazo
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Charles University, Akademika Heyrovského 1203, 500 05 Hradec Králové, Czech Republic;
| | - Kateřina Macáková
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Charles University, Akademika Heyrovského 1203, 500 05 Hradec Králové, Czech Republic;
| | - Kateřina Matoušová
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Diagnostics, University Hospital Hradec Králové, Sokolská 581, 500 05 Hradec Králové, Czech Republic; (K.M.); (L.K.K.)
| | - Lenka Kujovská Krčmová
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Diagnostics, University Hospital Hradec Králové, Sokolská 581, 500 05 Hradec Králové, Czech Republic; (K.M.); (L.K.K.)
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Charles University, Akademika Heyrovského 1203, 500 05 Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
| | - Michele Protti
- The Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology (FaBiT), Alma Mater Studiorum–University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro 6, 40126 Bologna, Italy;
| | - Přemysl Mladěnka
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Charles University, Akademika Heyrovského 1203, 500 05 Hradec Králové, Czech Republic;
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Congenital Malformations in Sea Turtles: Puzzling Interplay between Genes and Environment. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11020444. [PMID: 33567785 PMCID: PMC7915190 DOI: 10.3390/ani11020444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Revised: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Congenital malformations can lead to embryonic mortality in many species, and sea turtles are no exception. Genetic and/or environmental alterations occur during early development in the embryo, and may produce aberrant phenotypes, many of which are incompatible with life. Causes of malformations are multifactorial; genetic factors may include mutations, chromosomal aberrations, and inbreeding effects, whereas non-genetic factors may include nutrition, hyperthermia, low moisture, radiation, and contamination. It is possible to monitor and control some of these factors (such as temperature and humidity) in nesting beaches, and toxic compounds in feeding areas, which can be transferred to the embryo through their lipophilic properties. In this review, we describe possible causes of different types of malformations observed in sea turtle embryos, as well as some actions that may help reduce embryonic mortality. Abstract The completion of embryonic development depends, in part, on the interplay between genetic factors and environmental conditions, and any alteration during development may affect embryonic genetic and epigenetic regulatory pathways leading to congenital malformations, which are mostly incompatible with life. Oviparous reptiles, such as sea turtles, that produce numerous eggs in a clutch that is buried on the beach provide an opportunity to study embryonic mortality associated with malformations that occur at different times during development, or that prevent the hatchling from emerging from the nest. In sea turtles, the presence of congenital malformations frequently leads to mortality. A few years ago, a detailed study was performed on external congenital malformations in three species of sea turtles from the Mexican Pacific and Caribbean coasts, the hawksbill turtle, Eretmochelys imbricata (n = 23,559 eggs), the green turtle, Chelonia mydas (n = 17,690 eggs), and the olive ridley, Lepidochelys olivacea (n = 20,257 eggs), finding 63 types of congenital malformations, of which 38 were new reports. Of the three species, the olive ridley showed a higher incidence of severe anomalies in the craniofacial region (49%), indicating alterations of early developmental pathways; however, several malformations were also observed in the body, including defects in the carapace (45%) and limbs (33%), as well as pigmentation disorders (20%), indicating that deviations occurred during the middle and later stages of development. Although intrinsic factors (i.e., genetic mutations or epigenetic modifications) are difficult to monitor in the field, some environmental factors (such as the incubation temperature, humidity, and probably the status of feeding areas) are, to some extent, less difficult to monitor and/or control. In this review, we describe the aetiology of different malformations observed in sea turtle embryos, and provide some actions that can reduce embryonic mortality.
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Cojean O, Lair S, Vergneau-Grosset C. Evaluation of β-carotene assimilation in leopard geckos (Eublepharis macularius). J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl) 2018; 102:1411-1418. [PMID: 29797444 DOI: 10.1111/jpn.12924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2017] [Revised: 01/11/2018] [Accepted: 04/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Although leopard geckos (Eublepharis macularius) are commonly kept under human care, their vitamin requirements are largely unknown. Many invertebrate preys display a low vitamin A concentration; thus, gut-loading insects with vitamin A or carotenoids is a common practice. The objective of this prospective experimental study was to investigate whether dietary supplementation with β-carotene, including prey gut-loading, leads to sufficient vitamin A hepatic storage and prevents epithelial squamous metaplasia development in leopard geckos. Ten clinically healthy female leopard geckos were randomly divided in two groups with various supplementations: a group receiving vitamin A supplementation and a group receiving β-carotene. Insects were gut-loaded continuously with a supplement containing vitamin A or β-carotene, depending on the group. Oral supplementation with cod liver oil or carrot juice was administered weekly to each lizard from "vitamin A group" and "carotenoid group" respectively. After 10 weeks of supplementation, surgical hepatic biopsies were obtained in three geckos of each group while the two remaining geckos were euthanized to undergo complete necropsy. Hepatic vitamin A concentration was determined for each lizard (n = 10) by ultra-performance liquid chromatography. Histopathology revealed hepatocellular vacuolization and vitellogenic follicles in five females. Epithelial squamous metaplasia was not observed in any of the geckos. Hepatic vitamin A concentration was significantly higher in the carotenoid-supplemented group than in the vitamin A-supplemented group (p = 0.03). Our results suggest that in leopard geckos, dietary supplementation with β-carotene allows sufficient vitamin A hepatic storage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ophélie Cojean
- Zoological Medicine Service, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC, Canada
| | - Stéphane Lair
- Zoological Medicine Service, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC, Canada
| | - Claire Vergneau-Grosset
- Zoological Medicine Service, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC, Canada
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Metzler MA, Sandell LL. Enzymatic Metabolism of Vitamin A in Developing Vertebrate Embryos. Nutrients 2016; 8:E812. [PMID: 27983671 PMCID: PMC5188467 DOI: 10.3390/nu8120812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2016] [Revised: 12/09/2016] [Accepted: 12/13/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Embryonic development is orchestrated by a small number of signaling pathways, one of which is the retinoic acid (RA) signaling pathway. Vitamin A is essential for vertebrate embryonic development because it is the molecular precursor of the essential signaling molecule RA. The level and distribution of RA signaling within a developing embryo must be tightly regulated; too much, or too little, or abnormal distribution, all disrupt embryonic development. Precise regulation of RA signaling during embryogenesis is achieved by proteins involved in vitamin A metabolism, retinoid transport, nuclear signaling, and RA catabolism. The reversible first step in conversion of the precursor vitamin A to the active retinoid RA is mediated by retinol dehydrogenase 10 (RDH10) and dehydrogenase/reductase (SDR family) member 3 (DHRS3), two related membrane-bound proteins that functionally activate each other to mediate the interconversion of retinol and retinal. Alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) enzymes do not contribute to RA production under normal conditions during embryogenesis. Genes involved in vitamin A metabolism and RA catabolism are expressed in tissue-specific patterns and are subject to feedback regulation. Mutations in genes encoding these proteins disrupt morphogenesis of many systems in a developing embryo. Together these observations demonstrate the importance of vitamin A metabolism in regulating RA signaling during embryonic development in vertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa A Metzler
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Craniofacial Biology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40201, USA.
| | - Lisa L Sandell
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Craniofacial Biology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40201, USA.
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Letcher RJ, Lu Z, de Solla SR, Sandau CD, Fernie KJ. Snapping Turtles (Chelydra serpentina) from Canadian Areas of Concern across the southern Laurentian Great Lakes: Chlorinated and brominated hydrocarbon contaminants and metabolites in relation to circulating concentrations of thyroxine and vitamin A. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2015; 143:266-278. [PMID: 26519832 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2015.10.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2015] [Revised: 09/16/2015] [Accepted: 10/14/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The metabolites of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), as well as other halogenated phenolic contaminants (HPCs) have been shown to have endocrine-disrupting properties, and have been reported with increasing frequency in the blood of wildlife, and mainly in mammals and birds. However, little is known about the persistence, accumulation and distribution of these contaminants in long-lived freshwater reptiles. In the present study, in addition to a large suite of chlorinated and brominated contaminants, metabolites and HPCs, we assessed and compared hydroxylated (OH) PCBs and OH-PBDEs relative to PCBs and PBDEs, respectively, in the plasma of adult male common snapping turtles (Chelydra serpentina). Blood samples were collected from 62 snapping turtles (2001-2004) at 12 wetland sites between the Detroit River and the St. Lawrence River on the Canadian side of the Laurentian Great Lakes of North America. Turtles were sampled from sites designated as Areas of Concern (AOCs) and from a relatively clean reference site in southern Georgian Bay (Tiny Marsh), Lake Huron. Plasma concentrations of Σ46PCB (10-340 ng/g wet weight (ww)) and Σ28OH-PCB (3-83 ng/g ww) were significantly greater (p<0.05) in turtles from the Turkey Creek and Muddy Creek-Wheatley Harbour sites in Lake Erie compared with the reference site turtles. The HPC, pentachlorophenol (PCP), had a mean concentration of 9.6±1.1 ng/g ww. Of the 28 OH-CB congeners screened for, 4-OH-CB187 (42±7 ng/g ww) was the most concentrated of all HPCs measured. Of the 14 OH-BDE congeners examined, four (4'-OH-BDE17, 3-OH-BDE47, 5-OH-BDE47 and 4'-OH-BDE49) were consistently found in all plasma samples. p,p'-DDE was the most concentrated of the 18 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) examined. The mean concentrations of circulating total thyroxine (TT4), dehydroretinol and retinol in the plasma of the male snapping turtles regardless of sampling site were 5.4±0.3, 81±4.7 and 291±13 ng/mL, respectively. Significant (p<0.05) negative (e.g. cis-chlordane) or positive (e.g. BDE-99) correlations between some of the target contaminants and TT4, dehydroretinol or retinol were observed. To our knowledge, we report for the first time on HPC (e.g. OH-PCBs) and methylsulfonyl- (MeSO2-) PCB metabolite contaminants in the plasma of any freshwater turtle or freshwater reptilian species. Our findings also show that the accumulation of OH-PCBs, MeSO2-PCBs, OH-PBDEs and some OCPs in the snapping turtles from Lake Erie and Lake Ontario (in 2001-2004) had the potential for eliciting endocrine disruption. Exposure to these contaminants and associated adverse effects on the endocrine system in freshwater reptiles and the related mechanisms require further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert J Letcher
- Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Science and Technology Branch, Environment Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0H3.
| | - Zhe Lu
- Richardson College for the Environment, Environmental Studies Program and Department of Chemistry, University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, MB, Canada R3B 2E9
| | - Shane R de Solla
- Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Science and Technology Branch, Environment Canada, Canada Centre for Inland Waters, Burlington, Ontario, Canada L7S 1A1
| | | | - Kimberly J Fernie
- Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Science and Technology Branch, Environment Canada, Canada Centre for Inland Waters, Burlington, Ontario, Canada L7S 1A1
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Gesto M, Castro LFC, Santos MM. Differences in retinoid levels and metabolism among gastropod lineages: imposex-susceptible gastropods lack the ability to store retinoids in the form of retinyl esters. AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2013; 142-143:96-103. [PMID: 23981467 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2013.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2013] [Revised: 07/29/2013] [Accepted: 08/01/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
The presence of a complex retinoid system was long believed to be a chordate/vertebrate novelty. However, recent findings indicate otherwise since the gastropod mollusk Osilinus lineatus was found to have the capacity to store retinoids in the form of retinyl esters (REs), a key feature to maintain a homeostatic control of retinoid levels. Here, we investigated whether such a complex retinoid system is widely distributed among gastropod lineages. Additionally, since one of the most spectacular examples of endocrine disruption in the wild, the masculinization of female gastropods (imposex) by the retinoid X receptor (RXR) agonist, tributyltin (TBT), has been linked with perturbed retinoid signaling, we also investigated if retinoid storage mechanisms in the form of retinyl esters were present in imposex-susceptible gastropods. Initially, we determined the presence of both polar (active retinoic acid isomers) and nonpolar retinoids (retinol, REs) in selected gastropod species: the limpet Patella depressa and the imposex-susceptible whelks Nucella lapillus and Nassarius reticulatus. Although all species presented active retinoid forms, N. lapillus and N. reticulatus were shown to lack nonpolar retinoids. The absence of REs, which are the common retinoid storage form found in vertebrates and in O. lineatus suggest that those species are unable to use them to maintain a homeostatic control of their retinoid levels. In order to further clarify the retinoid metabolic pathways in imposex-susceptible gastropods, a retinoid exposure study was carried out with N. lapillus. The results demonstrate that although N. lapillus is able to metabolize several retinoid precursors, it lacks the capacity to store retinoids as REs. Whether the lack of retinoid storage mechanisms in the form of REs in imposex-susceptible gastropods plays an important role in the susceptibility to RXR agonists warrants additional studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Gesto
- CIMAR/CIIMAR - Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Rua dos Bragas 289, 4050-123 Porto, Portugal.
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Yin HD, Gilbert ER, Chen SY, Li DY, Zhang ZC, Wang Y, Liu YP, Zhu Q. Ontogenic expression pattern and genetic polymorphisms of the retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) gene in Erlang mountainous chickens. Gene 2013; 526:170-5. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2013.05.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2013] [Revised: 04/27/2013] [Accepted: 05/13/2013] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
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Gesto M, Castro LFC, Reis-Henriques MA, Santos MM. Retinol metabolism in the mollusk Osilinus lineatus indicates an ancient origin for retinyl ester storage capacity. PLoS One 2012; 7:e35138. [PMID: 22493737 PMCID: PMC3320870 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0035138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2012] [Accepted: 03/13/2012] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Although retinoids have been reported to be present and active in vertebrates and invertebrates, the presence of mechanisms for retinoid storage in the form of retinyl esters, a key feature to maintain whole-organism retinoid homeostasis, have been considered to date a vertebrate innovation. Here we demonstrate for the first time the presence of retinol and retinyl esters in an invertebrate lophotrochozoan species, the gastropod mollusk Osilinus lineatus. Furthermore, through a pharmacological approach consisting of intramuscular injections of different retinoid precursors, we also demonstrate that the retinol esterification pathway is active in vivo in this species. Interestingly, retinol and retinyl esters were only detected in males, suggesting a gender-specific role for these compounds in the testis. Females, although lacking detectable levels of retinol or retinyl esters, also have the biochemical capacity to esterify retinol, but at a lower rate than males. The occurrence of retinyl ester storage capacity, together with the presence in males and females of active retinoids, i.e., retinoic acid isomers, indicates that O. lineatus has a well developed retinoid system. Hence, the present data strongly suggest that the capacity to maintain retinoid homeostasis has arisen earlier in Bilateria evolution than previously thought.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Gesto
- CIMAR/CIIMAR (Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - L. Filipe C. Castro
- CIMAR/CIIMAR (Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Maria Armanda Reis-Henriques
- CIMAR/CIIMAR (Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Miguel Machado Santos
- CIMAR/CIIMAR (Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
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Levi L, Ziv T, Admon A, Levavi-Sivan B, Lubzens E. Insight into molecular pathways of retinal metabolism, associated with vitellogenesis in zebrafish. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 2012; 302:E626-44. [PMID: 22205629 DOI: 10.1152/ajpendo.00310.2011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Retinal is the main retinoid stored in oviparous eggs of fish, amphibians, and reptiles, reaching the oocytes in association with vitellogenins, the yolk precursor proteins. During early presegmentation stages of zebrafish embryos, retinal is metabolized to retinoic acid (RA), which regulates genes involved in cell proliferation, differentiation, and tissue function and is therefore essential for normal embryonic development. While synthesis of vitellogenin and its regulation by 17β-estradiol (E(2)) were extensively investigated, pathways for retinal synthesis remain obscure. We determined the expression pattern of 46 candidate genes, aiming at identifying enzymes associated with retinal synthesis, ascertaining whether they were regulated by E(2), and finding pathways that could fulfill the demand for retinoids during vitellogenesis. Genes associated with retinal synthesis were upregulated in liver (rdh10, rdh13, sdr) and surprisingly also in intestine (rdh13) and ovary (rdh1, sdr), concomitantly with higher gene expression and synthesis of vitellogenins in liver but also in extrahepatic tissues, shown here for the first time. Vitellogenin synthesis in the ovary was regulated by E(2). Gene expression studies suggest that elevated retinal synthesis in liver, intestine, and ovary also depends on cleavage of carotenoids (by Bcdo2 or Bmco1), but in the ovary it may also be contingent on higher uptake of retinol from the circulatory system (via Stra6) and retinol synthesis from retinyl esters (by Lpl). Decrease in oxidation (by Raldh2 or Raldh3) of retinal to RA and/or degradation of RA (by Cyp26a1) may also facilitate higher hepatic retinal levels. Together, these processes enable meeting the putative demands of retinal for binding to vitellogenins. Bioinformatic tools reveal multiple hormone response elements in the studied genes, suggesting complex and intricate regulation of these processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liraz Levi
- Dept. of Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research, Haifa, Israel
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