The effect of dibutyryl cyclic AMP and butyrate on F9 teratocarcinoma cellular retinoic acid-binding protein activity

LIF removal increases CRABPI and CRABPII transcripts in embryonic stem cells cultured in retinol or 4-oxoretinol

Murine embryonic stem (ES) cells cultured without leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) or with retinoids differentiate and concomitantly metabolize retinol (vitamin A) to 4-oxoretinol. Our objective was to examine the effects of retinol or 4-oxoretinol on cellular retinoic acid binding protein (CRABP) I and II mRNA levels and retinol metabolism. ES cells were cultured with or without LIF, and with various doses of all-trans-retinol, all-trans-4-oxoretinol, or all-trans-retinoic acid (RA). In ES cells treated with retinol or 4-oxoretinol in the absence of LIF the CRABP-I (Crabp1, NM_013496; GI:7304974) and CRABP-II (Crabp2, NM_007759; GI:33469074) mRNA levels at 72h were 66+/-4 and 413+/-6 fold higher, respectively, than the levels in control ES cells cultured without retinoids and in the presence of LIF. The increase in CRABPI mRNA occurred through an increase in CRABPI gene transcription. CRABPI protein was also increased by >50-fold in cells treated with retinol in the absence of LIF. However [(3)H]4-oxoretinol does not bind to murine CRABPI or CRABPII. CYP26A1 mRNA levels and [(3)H]4-oxoretinol production from [(3)H]retinol increased in cells cultured without LIF and with exogenous retinoids. The enormous increases in CRABPI and II transcripts ( approximately 60 and 400-fold, respectively) in the absence of LIF may regulate aspects of the ES cell differentiation program in response to retinol.

Homozygous deletion of the CRABPI gene in AB1 embryonic stem cells results in increased CRABPII gene expression and decreased intracellular retinoic acid concentration

The cellular retinoic acid (RA) binding proteins I and II (CRABPI and CRABPII), intracellular proteins which bind retinoic acid with high affinity, are involved in the actions of RA, though their exact roles are not fully understood. We have generated several genetically engineered AB1 cell lines in which both alleles of the CRABPI gene have been deleted by homologous recombination. We have used these CRABPI knockout cell lines to examine the consequences of functional loss of CRABPI on RA-induced gene expression and RA metabolism in the murine embryonic stem cell line, AB1, which undergoes differentiation in response to RA. Complete lack of CRABPI results in decreased intracellular [3H]RA concentrations under conditions in which external concentrations of [3H]RA are low (1-10nM) and in an altered distribution of [3H] polar metabolites of [3H]RA in the cell and in the medium. Fewer [3H] polar metabolites are retained within the CRABPI(-/-) cells compared to the wild-type cells. These data suggest that CRABPI functions to regulate the intracellular concentrations of retinoic acid and to maintain high levels of oxidized retinoic acid metabolites such as 4-oxoretinoic acid within cells.

Biochemical basis for depressed serum retinol levels in transthyretin-deficient mice

Transthyretin (TTR) acts physiologically in the transport of retinol in the circulation. We previously reported the generation and partial characterization of TTR-deficient (TTR(-)) mice. TTR(-) mice have very low circulating levels of retinol and its specific transport protein, retinol-binding protein (RBP). We have examined the biochemical basis for the low plasma retinol-RBP levels. Cultured primary hepatocytes isolated from wild type (WT) and TTR(-) mice accumulated RBP in their media to an identical degree, suggesting that RBP was being secreted from the hepatocytes at the same rate. In vivo experiments support this conclusion. For the first 11 h after complete nephrectomy, the levels retinol and RBP rose in the circulations of WT and TTR(-) mice at nearly identical rates. However, human retinol-RBP injected intravenously was more rapidly cleared from the circulation (t(12) = 0.5 h for TTR(-) versus t(12) >6 h for WT) and accumulated faster in the kidneys of TTR(-) compared with WT mice. The rate of infiltration of the retinol-RBP complex from the circulation to tissue interstitial fluids was identical in both strains. Taken together, these data indicate that low circulating retinol-RBP levels in TTR(-) mice arise from increased renal filtration of the retinol-RBP complex.

Multiple factors contribute to the toxicity of the aromatic retinoid TTNPB (Ro 13-7410): interactions with the retinoic acid receptors

The aromatic retinoid, (E)-4-[2-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-5,5,8,8-tetramethyl-2-naphthylenyl)-1 -propenyl] benzoic acid (TTNPB) is 1000-fold more teratogenic than all trans-retinoic acid (tRA) in several species. Factors that partially explain the potency of this retinoid include binding affinities to retinoid nuclear receptors (RARs) in the nanomolar range, reduced affinities for the cytosolic binding proteins (CRABPs), and slow rate of metabolism (M. A. Pignatello, F. C. Kauffman, and A. A. Levin, Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 142, 319-327, 1997). The present work investigates the possible involvement of longer receptor occupancy and increased transcriptional activity of the ligand receptor complex in the greater toxicity of TTNPB. Ligand off-rates from nuclear receptors were determined in nucleosol fractions prepared from COS-1 cells transfected with cDNA encoding the appropriate RAR subtype. When assayed at 10 degrees C, [3H]TTNPB was displaced from the RARs at a significantly faster rate than that of [3H]tRA. The difference in displacement was reduced at 4 degrees C. These observations are consistent with the 10-fold lower affinity of TTNPB vs tRA for RARs and, therefore, do not explain the greater potency of TTNPB. The ability of TTNPB and tRA to activate the RARs was determined using a luciferase reporter gene transfected into JEG-3 cells with the appropriate RAR subtype. The expression of the reporter was driven by a retinoic acid response element (RARE) from the RAR beta gene, which was incorporated into the reporter plasmid. Dose-response for gene activation indicated that the potency of TTNPB and tRA in activating mRAR alpha, beta, and gamma was similar after 24 h with comparable EC50s in the nanomolar range. However, after 72 h, activation by TTNPB was greater than that of tRA as indicated by EC50s and threshold for activation. This study indicates that the higher potency of TTNPB in activating the RARs may be due to slower disappearance of the retinoid and, therefore, is a contributing factor to its greater toxicity.

Up-regulation of the estrogen receptor by triiodothyronine in rat pituitary cell lines

The effects of thyroid hormones on estrogen receptor (ER) levels in four different rat pituitary clonal cell lines designated as MtT/Se, SM, S and E, were investigated. When T3 was added at 10(-7) M, a significant increase in ER was evident after 9 h with maximum levels reached after 24-48 h in MtT/Se (270% of control), MtT/SM (160%) and MtT/S (140%). No significant increase was noted in MtT/E cells in which the T3 receptor (T3R) level was only one-tenth of that in the other cells, suggesting a direct link between ER expression and T3R binding. ER levels began to increase at 10(-10) M and reached maxima at 10(-8) M in MtT/Se, SM and S cells. Up to 10(-5) M of retinoic acid (RA) did not change ER levels in any of the cell lines. When Se cells were treated with cycloheximide before T3 administration, the increase in ER was completely blocked. Northern blot analysis of total RNA isolated from T3-treated MtT/Se cells revealed a limited 1.4-fold increase in ER mRNA at 10(-7) M. In conclusion, thyroid hormones (but not RA) increase ER levels in pituitary cells by a process requiring protein synthesis, and which is accompanied by an increase in the mRNA.

Multiple factors contribute to the toxicity of the aromatic retinoid, TTNPB (Ro 13-7410): binding affinities and disposition

The aromatic retinoid (E)-4-[2-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-5,5,8,8-tetramethyl-2-naphthylenyl)-1 -propenyl] benzoic acid (TTNPB) is 1000-fold more potent as a teratogen than all trans-retinoic acid (tRA) in several species and in the inhibition of chondrogenesis in the mouse limb bud cell culture. Factors responsible for the potency of TTNPB were investigated including binding to nuclear retinoic acid receptors (RARs and RXRs), cytosolic binding proteins (CRABPs), and metabolic disposition of TTNPB. For competitive binding assays and saturation kinetics, nucleosol or cytosol fractions were obtained from COS-1 cells transfected with cDNAs encoding the appropriate nuclear receptor or binding protein. TTNPB binds to RAR alpha, beta, and gamma with Kds in the nanomolar range; however, these binding affinities are 10-fold less than those of tRA. Although the affinities are high for TTNPB, it is unlikely that the binding affinities to nuclear receptors alone account for the potency of TTNPB. The binding affinities of TTNPB for the CRABPs are significantly lower than those of tRA. TTNPB did not compete with [3H]9-cis RA for binding to RXR alpha, beta, or gamma. Mouse limb bud cell cultures, a well characterized model for retinoid teratogenesis, were used to compare the metabolic disposition of TTNPB and tRA. In the media of limb bud cell cultures treated with either retinoid, the disappearance of TTNPB was significantly slower than that of tRA over 72 hr. Both retinoids reached approximately equal concentrations in cell uptake experiments; however, TTNPB disappeared from the limb bud cell at a significantly slower rate than did tRA. Collectively, these results indicate that high affinity binding to RARs, lower affinity to CRABPs, and resistance to metabolism contribute to the potency of TTNPB.

An analysis of retinoic acid-induced gene expression and metabolism in AB1 embryonic stem cells

Murine embryonic stem cells such as the AB1 cell line undergo differentiation in the presence of retinoic acid (RA) into an extraembryonic epithelial cell type. This results in the activation of genes such as Hoxa-1, Hoxb-1, laminin, collagen IV(alpha1), tissue plasminogen activator, RARbeta, and CRABPII. The CRABPI gene is regulated in an unusual fashion; CRABPI message and protein levels are induced at low concentrations of RA, but induction is diminished at higher concentrations. AB1 cells take up RA rapidly from the medium, and the addition of low, exogenous concentrations of RA to the culture medium results in very high intracellular RA concentrations. For example, AB1 stem cells cultured in 5 nM [3H]RA have an internal [3H]RA concentration of 1-2 microM within the first hour. AB1 cells also metabolize [3H]RA to more polar RA derivatives. The half-life of RA in AB1 cells not previously exposed to RA is about 2-2.5 h versus 40-45 min in cells cultured for 2-3 days in 1 microM exogenous RA. Thus, the enzyme(s) which metabolize RA are induced or activated by RA. Furthermore, the local concentration of RA required to elicit some biological responses may be higher than previously thought.

Interactions between the transforming growth factor beta (TGF beta) and retinoic acid signal transduction pathways in murine embryonic palatal cells

Regulation of expression of transforming growth factor-beta 3 (TGF-beta 3) and the cellular retinoic acid-binding proteins-I and II (CRABP-I, -II) by retinoic acid (RA) and TGF-beta was examined in primary cultures of murine embryonic palate mesenchymal (MEPM) cells. Northern blot hybridization revealed that RA and TGF-beta 1, beta 2 and beta 3 stimulated the expression of TGF-beta 3 mRNA within 24 hours of treatment. RA down-regulated the expression of CRABP-I mRNA and up-regulated the expression of CRABP-II mRNA in a time- and dose-dependent fashion. TGF-beta 1, beta 2 and beta 3 also down-regulated the expression of CRABP-I mRNA, while epidermal growth factor (EGF) and transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-alpha) were without effect. TGF-beta 1 also stimulated a dose-dependent increase in the expression of CRABP-II mRNA. Again EGF and TGF-alpha were without effect. Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) elicited a slight inhibitory effect on CRABP-II and a slight stimulatory effect on CRABP-I mRNA expression. Thus, cells derived from the mammalian developing palate express CRABP-I and CRABP-II mRNAs, both of which may be regulated by RA and TGF-beta. These data constitute the first demonstration of an effect of TGF-beta on the expression of CRABP-I and CRABP-II and provide further evidence for cross-talk between RA and TGF-beta signal transduction pathways.

Retinoids and a retinoic acid receptor differentially modulate thymosin beta 10 gene expression in transfected neuroblastoma cells

1. Investigations have demonstrated that the gene encoding thymosin beta 10 (a 43-amino acid member of a family of related proteins originally described in the rat immune system) is a target for morphogenic retinoids in both human and rat neuroblastoma cells. 2. Structure-activity studies revealed that the stimulatory actions of retinoids upon the thymosin beta 10 gene reflect the differing affinities of retinoid analogues for a retinoic acid receptor. 3. To examine further the possibility that the trophic actions of retinoic acid upon expression of the thymosin beta 10 gene involved retinoid receptors, neuroblastoma cells were transiently transfected with an expression vector encoding the nuclear retinoic acid receptor (alpha) protein. 4. Northern blot and slot-blot analyses revealed that neuronal cells overexpressing RAR alpha-mRNA exhibited an enhanced sensitivity to exogenous and endogenous retinoic acid in terms of thymosin beta 10 mRNA. Although the RAR-alpha gene was expressed (at low levels) a priori in these neuroblastoma cells, retinoic acid (2 x 10(-7) M for 3 days) slightly stimulated RAR-alpha-mRNA accumulation. 5. Collectively, these findings indicate the retinoic acid receptor (alpha) is regulated by retinoid acid and that the developmentally regulated, retinoid-responsive thymosin beta 10 gene is a target for this nuclear transcription factor in cells derived from the neural crest.

9-cis retinoic acid stereoisomer binds and activates the nuclear receptor RXR alpha

Vitamin A (retinol) and its natural derivatives are required for many physiological processes. The activity of retinoids is thought to be mediated by interactions with two subfamilies of nuclear retinoic acid receptors, RAR and RXR. The RARs bind all-trans retinoic acid (t-RA) with high affinity and alter gene expression as a consequence of this direct ligand interaction. RXR alpha is activated by t-RA, yet has little binding affinity for this ligand. t-RA may be converted to a more proximate ligand that directly binds and activates RXR alpha, and we have developed a method of nuclear receptor-dependent ligand trapping to test this hypothesis. Here we report the identification of a stereoisomer of retinoic acid, 9-cis retinoic acid, which directly binds and activates RXR alpha. These results suggest a new role for isomerization in the physiology of natural retinoids.

Retinoic acid regulates thymosin beta 10 levels in rat neuroblastoma cells

A small acidic polypeptide, termed thymosin beta 10, has been identified and is present in the nervous system of the rat by the ninth day of gestation. Thymosin beta 10 levels rise during the remaining days of life in utero, and then decline to nearly undetectable values between the second and fourth week post partum. The present study investigates the possible developmental signals and mechanisms that might regulate the expression of thymosin beta 10 during neuroembryogenesis. Many cell lines derived from tumors of the central nervous system express thymosin beta 10, as well as its homologue gene product, thymosin beta 4. Because some of these cell lines respond to exogenously applied agents by increasing their apparent state of differentiation, we have determined whether thymosin beta 10 levels are coordinately modulated. In several neuroblastomas, including the B103 and B104 lines, retinoic acid elicits a time- and dose-dependent increase in the content of thymosin beta 10, but not that of thymosin beta 4. The increase in thymosin beta 10 polypeptide is associated with a marked increase in the specific mRNA encoding this molecule. The mRNA for thymosin beta 4 is unaffected by retinoic acid. This is in contrast with the situation in vivo, where the expression of both genes decreases after birth. Other agents that influence the morphology of B104 cells, such as phorbol esters and dibutyryl cyclic AMP, have no influence on beta-thymosin levels. A range of steroids, which like retinoids act upon nuclear receptors, was also inactive. The stimulatory action of retinoic acid is detectable within 4 h, and thymosin beta 10 peptide levels continue to rise for at least 4 days. The influence of the isoprenoid is fully reversible and exhibits structural specificity. We believe that this culture system is mimicking the early rising phase of thymosin beta 10 levels in brain and that endogenous retinoids may be candidate physiological regulators of this gene.

Reversible effects of sodium butyrate on the differentiation of F9 embryonal carcinoma cells

We have studied effects of sodium butyrate on embryonal carcinoma F9 cell differentiation. In the presence of sodium butyrate, F9 cells underwent rapid and drastic morphological changes and expressed marked increases in mRNA levels of various differentiation markers. When sodium butyrate was removed from the cultures, all the examined phenotypes of F9 cell differentiation rapidly reverted to the characteristics of undifferentiated stem cells. However, under the same conditions, when cycloheximide or actinomycin D was added to the cultures, such phenotypic reversion was not observed, but high mRNA levels of the differentiation markers as well as altered cell morphology were retained. These results indicated that the effects of sodium butyrate on induction of teratocarcinoma cell differentiation were reversible and that de novo syntheses of some mRNA(s) and protein(s) were necessary for the reversion of differentiated cells to stem cells.

Growth-promoting effect of retinoic acid in transplantable pituitary tumor of rat

MtT/F84 grew well in Fischer rats (F344), but tumor growth was promoted in hyperestrogenized rats. Effects of dietary retinoic acid (RA) on tumor growth, estrogen receptor (ER) and serum growth hormone (GH) level were examined. Tumor latency became shortened, and tumor take and weight were promoted by all-trans RA at dosages of 50 and 200 mg/kg basal diet, but not dose-dependently. ER level was elevated in tumor of RA-treated rats, whereas the retinoic acid-binding protein level remained unchanged. RA also elevated incorporation of 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine, a thymidine analogue, into DNA of tumor cells. Average serum GH level was increased in tumor-bearing rats treated with RA and was well correlated with tumor weight. RA may directly affect ER level and enhance estrogenic action, resulting in promotion of tumor growth, or it may act independently for tumor growth and elevation of serum GH level.

Increased proteoglycan synthesis following the differentiation of F9 embryonal carcinoma cells: formation of a differentiation-specific proteoheparan sulfate

We have examined changes in proteoglycan synthesis by F9 embryonal carcinoma cells after the cells have been treated with retinoic acid or retinoic acid plus cholera toxin. Retinoic acid is known to stimulate the differentiation of this cell type to a primitive endoderm-like cell characterized by the production of basement membrane components such as type IV collagen, laminin and proteoglycans. We have now demonstrated that proteoglycan synthesis and secretion were further stimulated when cholera toxin was added in addition to retinoic acid. Moreover, media of these fully differentiated cells was found to contain a different species of proteoheparan sulfate not produced by stem cells or retinoic acid-treated cells. This proteoheparan sulfate had a high density upon CsCl gradient centrifugation. The protein core of this proteoheparan sulfate was estimated by SDS gel electrophoresis to be approximately 15,000 daltons.

Ligand-specific and non-specific in vivo modulation of human epidermal cellular retinoic acid binding protein (CRABP)

Retinoic acid (RA) is bound intracellularly by a specific, low molecular weight protein (CRABP), that is unrelated to its nuclear receptor and whose function and regulation are still unknown. In the present study we were able to obtain an in vivo modulation of CRABP by different stimuli in one of the major target organs of RA: the human skin. We found increased CRABP after daily application during 4 days of natural or synthetic retinoids (RA, acitretin, isotretinoin, Ro137410, retinol), that have either a high affinity to CRABP or can be transformed into RA. Only Ro150778 with no affinity and no reported transformation had no effect. No macro- or microscopical changes could be observed with any of the tested compounds. Induction of inflammatory and hyperproliferative changes in the skin by topical dithranol treatment, UVB irradiation or scotch tape stripping also induced a significant increase of CRABP 3 days after exposure. Topical diflucortolone showed not only a tendancy to decrease intrinsic CRABP levels, but significantly reduced the retinoid stimulated rise of CRABP. Thus we conclude that the increase of CRABP in a fully differentiated adult tissue seems to be a biological phenomenon following processes of inflammation and proliferation with a lag of several days, while retinoids seem to be able to induce such a rise independently of, or before, the appearance of such processes. Corticosteroids seem to be inhibitors of this reaction. We discuss the hypothesis that CRABP might function as an intracellular 'buffer' in the case of RA overload.

Protein synthesis inhibitors prevent the induction of laminin B1, collagen IV (alpha 1), and other differentiation-specific mRNAs by retinoic acid in F9 teratocarcinoma cells

Several differentiation-specific genes, including those for collagen IV and laminin, are induced by retinoic acid (RA) in mouse F9 teratocarcinoma cells. Dibutyryl cAMP can enhance the effect of RA in these cells, but dibutyryl cAMP alone does not induce these genes. Inhibition of RNA synthesis with 5-6-dichloro-1-B-D-ribofuranosylbenzimidazole prevents the induction of these genes by RA; inhibition of DNA synthesis with aphidicolin does not prevent the induction. In vitro transcription studies (Wang et al., Dev. Biol., 107:75-86, 1985) demonstrate that these differentiation-specific genes are regulated by RA at least partially at the level of transcription. To determine whether the regulation of transcription of these differentiation-specific genes is a primary effect of RA, we measured the sensitivity of the induction of mRNAs specific for these RA-inducible genes to inhibitors of protein synthesis. RNA was isolated from F9 cells that had been treated for 20 hr with RA (with or without dibutyryl cAMP) in the presence or absence of either cycloheximide or puromycin. We then hybridized the 32P-labeled recombinant plasmids collagen IV (alpha 1) (pcI5), laminin B1 (pcI56), and pcJ6 to RNA from the treated cells. Both cycloheximide and puromycin inhibited the RA induction of the collagen IV (alpha 1), laminin B1, and J6 mRNAs. In contrast, in a control experiment, a 20-hr treatment with cycloheximide did not inhibit the accumulation of metallothionein I-specific mRNA in response to zinc in F9 cells. Thus protein synthesis is required for the expression of the collagen IV (alpha 1), laminin B1, and J6 genes, and this result suggests that the transcriptional regulation of these genes by RA is indirect.

Purification and properties of cellular retinoic acid-binding protein from neonatal rat skin

Cellular retinoic acid-binding protein (CRABP) was detected in cytosolic extracts of dermis and epidermis of neonatal rat skin using high-performance size-exclusion liquid chromatography and was more abundant in dermal tissue. CRABP was purified 1000-fold from an acid-precipitated, 50,000 x g supernatant of neonatal rat skin by ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-Sephacel, followed by chromatofocussing and hydrophobic-interaction chromatography. The protein had an apparent Mr of 14,800. In chromatofocussing experiments the apoprotein and holoprotein gave different elution profiles, indicating a charge difference between the two forms. The ability of various retinoids to compete with all-trans-retinoic acid for binding to CRABP was assayed: 4-oxoretinoic acid and two synthetic retinoids were effective competitors, but 13-cis-retinoic acid, 3,4-didehydroretinoic acid and the acid derivative of etretinate competed poorly. The binding protein had a Kd for all-trans-retinoic acid of 8 nM using a dextran-charcoal assay, but a higher value was obtained using high-performance size-exclusion liquid chromatography. The holoprotein dissociated rapidly at room temperature and had a half-life of 4.7 min. At 0 degrees C, the holoprotein had a half-life of 200 min.