A sensitive high-pressure liquid chromatography/particle beam/mass spectrometry assay for the determination of all-trans-retinoic acid and 13-cis-retinoic acid in human plasma

Effects of all-trans and 9-cis retinoic acid on differentiating human neural stem cells in vitro

Cyanobacterial blooms are known sources of environmentally-occurring retinoid compounds, including all-trans and 9-cis retinoic acids (RAs). The developmental hazard for aquatic organisms has been described, while the implications for human health hazard assessment are not yet sufficiently characterized. Here, we employ a human neural stem cell model that can differentiate in vitro into a mixed culture of neurons and glia. Cells were exposed to non-cytotoxic 8-1000 nM all-trans or 9-cis RA for 9-18 days (DIV13 and DIV22, respectively). Impact on biomarkers was analyzed on gene expression (RT-qPCR) and protein level (western blot and proteomics) at both time points; network patterning (immunofluorescence) on DIV22. RA exposure significantly concentration-dependently increased gene expression of retinoic acid receptors and the metabolizing enzyme CYP26A1, confirming the chemical-specific response of the model. Expression of thyroid hormone signaling-related genes remained mostly unchanged. Markers of neural progenitors/stem cells (PAX6, SOX1, SOX2, NESTIN) were decreased with increasing RA concentrations, though a basal population remained. Neural markers (DCX, TUJ1, MAP2, NeuN, SYP) remained unchanged or were decreased at high concentrations (200-1000 nM). Conversely, (astro-)glial marker S100β was increased concentration-dependently on DIV22. Together, the biomarker analysis indicates an RA-dependent promotion of glial cell fates over neural differentiation, despite the increased abundance of neural protein biomarkers during differentiation. Interestingly, RA exposure induced substantial changes to the cell culture morphology: while low concentrations resulted in a network-like differentiation pattern, high concentrations (200-1000 nM RA) almost completely prevented such network patterning. After functional confirmation for implications in network function, such morphological features could present a proxy for network formation assessment, an apical key event in (neuro-)developmental Adverse Outcome Pathways. The described application of a human in vitro model for (developmental) neurotoxicity to emerging environmentally-relevant retinoids contributes to the evidence-base for the use of differentiating human in vitro models for human health hazard and risk assessment.

Mass spectrometry in the pharmacokinetic studies of anticancer natural products

In the history of medicine, nature has represented the main source of medical products. Indeed, the therapeutic use of plants certainly goes back to the Sumerian and Hippocrates and nowadays nature still represents the major source for new drugs discovery. Moreover, in the cancer treatment, drugs are either natural compounds or have been developed from naturally occurring parent compounds firstly isolated from plants and microbes from terrestrial and marine environment. A critical element of an anticancer drug is represented by its severe toxicities and, after administration, the drug concentrations have to remain in an appropriate range to be effective. Anyway, the drug dosage defined during the clinical studies could be inappropriate for an individual patient due to differences in drug absorption, metabolism and excretion. For this reason, personalized medicine, based on therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM), represents one of most important challenges in cancer therapy. Mass spectrometry sensitivity, specificity and fastness lead to elect this technique as the Golden Standard for pharmacokinetics and drug metabolism studies therefore for TDM. This review focuses on the mass spectrometry-based methods developed for pharmacokinetic quantification in human plasma of anticancer drugs derived from natural sources and already used in clinical practice. Particular emphasis was placed both on the pre-analytical and analytical steps, such as: sample preparation procedures, sample size required by the analysis and the limit of quantification of drugs and metabolites to give some insights on the clinical practice applicability. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Mass Spec Rev. 36:213-251, 2017.

Regulation of cyp26a1 on Th17 cells in mouse peri-implantation

Cytochrome P450 26A1 (cyp26a1) is expressed in the mouse uterus during peri-implantation. The repression of this protein is closely associated with a reduction in implantation sites, suggesting a specific role for cyp26a1 in pregnancy and prompting questions concerning how a metabolic enzyme can generate this distinct outcome. To explore the effective downstream targets of cyp26a1 and confirm if its role in peri-implantation depends on its metabolic substrate RA (retinoic acid), we characterized the changes in the peripheral blood, spleen and uterine implantation sites using the cyp26a1 gene vaccine constructed before. Flow cytometry results showed a significant increase in CD4⁺RORγt⁺ Th17 cells in both the peripheral blood and spleen in the experimental group. The expression of RORγt and IL-17 presented the Th17 cells reduction in uterus followed by the suppression of cyp26a1 expression. For greater certainty, cyp26a1 antibody blocking model and RNA interference model were constructed to determine the precise target immune cell group. High performance liquid chromatography results showed a significant increase in uterine at-RA followed by the immunization of cyp26a1 gene vaccine. Both the ascertain by measuring RARα protein levels in peri-implantation uterus after gene vaccine immunization and researches using the specific agonist and antagonist against RARα suggested that RARα may be the main RA receptor for signal transduction. These results provided more evidence for the signal messenger role of RA in cyp26a1 regulation from the other side. Here, we showed that the cyp26a1-regulated Th17 cells are dependent on at-RA signalling, which is delivered through RARα in mouse peri-implantation.

Requirement of retinoids for the expression of CD38 on human hematopoietic progenitors in vitro

BACKGROUND

Cells expressing high levels of CD34 and little or no CD38 comprise a primitive compartment of progenitors, thought to include hematopoietic stem cells. In this study we sought to determine the feasibility of using CD34 and CD38 as markers of hematopoietic differentiation in vitro, using retinoids to induce the expression of CD38.

METHODS

The effects over time of culture, sera and retinoids on the expression of CD34 and CD38 were determined using a base-medium lacking serum. Two early progenitor populations, isolated by FACS from human fetal liver, were studied: CD38(-)CD34(++) and CD38(+)CD34(++) cells. Additionally, HL-60 cells were adapted to grow in serum-deprived medium to study factors that control CD38 expression. Colony forming cell (CFC) assays and short-term expansion cultures were used to measure the effects of all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) oil the growth of fetal progenitors.

RESULTS

Fetal progenitors and HL-60 cells grown under serum-deprived conditions exhibited almost no CD38 expression. However, CD34 expression was observed on fetal progenitors and declined slowly over time. Addition of FBS or human serum restored CD38 expression to cultured cells, but at levels below those found on progenitors in vivo. Addition of ATRA or 9-cis-retinoic acid (9CRA) to cultures of fetal progenitors or HL-60 cells, resulted in a time- and dose-dependent increase in CD38 expression, ATRA being the more potent of the two retinoids. However, ATRA inhibited colony formation, reduced the expansion of CFC and accelerated the loss of CD34 expression at doses required for the induction of CD38 expression.

DISCUSSION

ATRA-induced CD38 expression on cells to levels comparable to those found on progenitors in vivo. ATRA also inhibited the growth of early progenitors, which was partly due to ATRA accelerating the differentiation of the progenitors. These findings indicate that CD34 and CD38 expression may be followed as markers of hematopoietic differentiation in vitro, but at the cost of culture conditions that are less than optimal for maintaining early progenitors.

Quantitative high-throughput determination of endogenous retinoids in human plasma using triple-stage liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry

A high-throughput ultrasensitive analytical method based on liquid chromatography with positive ion atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) coupled to tandem mass spectrometric detection (LC/MS/MS) was developed for the determination of all-trans-4-oxo-retinoic acid (at4oxoRA), 13-cis-4-oxo-retinoic acid (13c4oxoRA), 13-cis-retinoic acid (13cRA), all-trans-retinoic acid (atRA) and all-trans-retinol (atROH) in human plasma. A stable isotope of atRA was used as internal standard (IS). The analytes and IS were isolated from 100 microL plasma by acetonitrile mono-phase extraction (MPE) performed in black 96-well microtiterplates. A 100 microL injection was focused on-column and chromatographed on an Agilent ZORBAX SB-C18 rapid-resolution high-throughput (RRHT) column with 1.8-microm particles (4.6 mmx50 mm) maintained at 60 degrees C. The initial mobile phase composition was acetonitrile/water/formic acid (10:90:0.1, v/v/v) delivered at 1.8 mL/min. Elution was accomplished by a fast gradient to acetonitrile/methanol/formic acid (90:10:0.1, v/v/v). The method had a chromatographic total run time of 7 min. An Applied Biosystems 4000 Q TRAP linear tandem mass spectrometer equipped with a heated nebulizer (APCI) ionization source was operated in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode with the precursor-to-product ion transitions m/z 315.4-->297 (4-oxo-retinoic acids), 301.2-->205 (retinoic acids), 305.0-->209 (IS) and 269.2-->93 (retinol) used for quantification. The assay was fully validated and found to have acceptable accuracy, precision, linearity, sensitivity and selectivity. The mean extraction recoveries from spiked plasma samples were 80-105% for the various retinoids at three different levels. The intra-day accuracy of the assay was within 8% of nominal and intra-day precision was better than 8% coefficient of variance (CV) for retinoic acids. Inter-day precision results for quality control samples run over a 12-day period alongside clinical samples showed mean precision better than 12.5% CV. The limit of quantification was in the range of 0.1-0.2 ng/mL and the mass limit of detection (mLOD) was in the range 1-4 pg on column for the retinoic acids. The assay has been successfully applied to the analysis of 1700 plasma samples.

Development of a gas chromatography method for the determination of isotretinoin and its degradation products in pharmaceuticals

This paper describes the development of a gas chromatography (GC) method used for the assay of isotretinoin in its isolated form and in pharmaceutical formulations. Isotretinoin soft and hard gelatin capsules were prepared with various excipients. The performance of the proposed gas chromatography method was compared to that of traditional high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) systems for this substance, and the GC parameters were established based on several preliminary tests, including thermal analysis of isotretinoin. Results showed that gas chromatography-flame ionization detector (GC-FID) exhibited a separation efficiency superior to that of HPLC, particularly for separating isotretinoin degradation products. This method was proven to be effectively applicable to stability evaluation assays of isotretinoin and isotretinoin based pharmaceuticals.

Inhibition of tumor growth by biodegradable microspheres containing all-trans-retinoic acid in a human head-and-neck cancer xenograft

Retinoids play essential roles in the regulation of cell differentiation and in the proliferation of various epithelial tissues, and atRA is one such active metabolite of retinoids. However, despite the known functions of atRA, its clinical applications are limited due to the induced metabolism by the specific cytochrome P-450s in the liver. To overcome the limitation, parenteral administration of atRA-loaded biodegradable microspheres, the PDLLA/PLE microspheres containing atRA, was suggested previously. We evaluated chemotherapeutic efficacy of atRA-loaded microspheres in a human head-and-neck xenograft/nude mouse model. When atRA-loaded microspheres were administered s.c. at 200 mg/kg body weight to athymic nude mice, plasma concentration of atRA could be maintained in a range of 1.2 to 3.7 x 10(-8) M for 4 weeks. As a result, the tumor volume of human head-and-neck cancer was reduced compared to the control group by 51.3% (p < 0.01) at 14 days and by 49.2% (p < 0.05) at 28 days.

Qualitative and quantitative liquid chromatographic determination of natural retinoids in biological samples

Liquid chromatography continues to be the preferred method for determining retinoids in biological samples. The highly unstable nature of retinoids and the real possibility of artifacts or erroneous results have led to the development of rapid and highly automated protocols for retinoid extraction, separation and detection. Due to strong light absorbance in the ultraviolet region, UV detectors still predominate although mass spectrometric detection is gaining increased popularity. This paper reviews recent advances and provides major guidelines for using liquid chromatography to identify and quantify retinoids in biological samples.

Inhibition of activation-induced apoptosis of thymocytes by all-trans- and 9-cis-retinoic acid is mediated via retinoic acid receptor alpha

Thymocytes can be induced to undergo apoptotic cell death by activation through the T-cell receptor (TCR). This process requires macromolecular synthesis and has been shown to be inhibited by retinoic acids (RAs). Two groups of nuclear receptors for RAs have been identified: retinoic acid receptors (RARs) and retinoid X receptors (RXRs). All-trans-RA is the high-affinity ligand for RARs, and 9-cis-RA additionally binds to RXRs with high affinity. Because 9-cis-RA is much more potent in inhibiting TCR-mediated death than all-trans-RA, it was suggested that RXRs participate in the process. In the present study various synthetic retinoid analogues were used to address this question further. The results presented suggest that the inhibitory effect of RAs on activation-induced death of thymocytes is mediated via RARalpha, because (1) it can be reproduced by various RARalpha analogues both in vitro and in vivo, (2) the effect of RAs can be inhibited by the addition of an RARalpha antagonist, (3) CD4+CD8+thymocytes, which die on TCR stimulation, express RARalpha. Stimulation of RARgamma, in contrast, enhances the activation-induced death of thymocytes and inhibits its prevention by RARalpha stimulation. RXR co-stimulation suspends this inhibitory effect of RARgamma and permits the preventive function of RARalpha on activation-induced death. Our results suggest a complex interaction between the various isoforms of retinoid receptors and demonstrate that low (physiological) concentrations of all-trans-RA do not affect the activation-induced death of thymocytes because the RARalpha-mediated inhibitory and the RARgamma-mediated enhancing pathways are in balance, whereas if 9-cis-RA is formed, additional stimulation of RXRs permits the inhibitory action of RARalpha.

Determination of endogenous levels of 13-cis-retinoic acid (isotretinoin), all-trans-retinoic acid (tretinoin) and their 4-oxo metabolites in human and animal plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography with automated column switching and ultraviolet detection

A highly sensitive HPLC method with automated column switching was developed for the simultaneous determination of endogenous levels of 13-cis-retinoic acid (isotretinoin), all-trans-retinoic acid (tretinoin) and their 4-oxo metabolites in plasma samples from man, Cynomolgus monkey, rabbit, rat and mouse. Plasma (0.4 ml) was deproteinated by adding ethanol (1.5 ml) containing the internal standard acitretin. After centrifugation, 1.4 ml of the supernatant were directly injected onto the precolumn packed with LiChrospher 100 RP-18 (5 microm). 1.25% ammonium acetate and acetic acid-ethanol (8:2, v/v) was used as mobile phase during injection and 1% ammonium acetate and 2% acetic acid-ethanol (102:4, v/v) was added, on-line, to decrease the elution strength of the injection solution. After backflush purging of the precolumn, the retained components were transferred to the analytical column in the backflush mode, separated by gradient elution and detected at 360 nm. Two coupled Superspher 100 RP-18 endcapped columns (both 250x4 mm) were used for the separation, together with a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile-water-10% ammonium acetate-acetic acid: (A) 600:300:60:10 (v/v/v/v), (B) 950:20:5:20 (v/v/v/v), and (C) 990:5:0:5 (v/v/v/v). The method was linear in the range 0.3-100 ng/ml, at least, with a quantification limit of 0.3 ng/ml. The mean recoveries from human plasma were 93.2%-94.4% and the mean inter-assay precision was 2.8%-3.2% (range 0.3-100 ng/ml). Similar results were obtained for animal plasma. The analytes were found to be stable in the plasma of all investigated species stored at -20 degrees C for 4.3 months and at -80 degrees C for 9 months, at least. At this temperature, human plasma samples were even stable for 2 years. The method was successfully applied to more than 6000 human and 1000 animal plasma samples from clinical and toxicokinetic studies. Endogenous levels determined in control patients and pregnant women were similar to published data from volunteers.

Simultaneous analysis of retinol, all-trans- and 13-cis-retinoic acid and 13-cis-4-oxoretinoic acid in plasma by liquid chromatography using on-column concentration after single-phase fluid extraction

A reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the simultaneous analysis of retinol, all-trans-retinoic acid, 13-cis-retinoic acid and 13-cis-4-oxoretinoic acid in human plasma and cell culture medium is described. Sample preparation involves precipitation of proteins and extraction of retinoids with 60% acetonitrile. After centrifugation, the acetonitrile content of the supernatant is reduced to 45%, allowing on-column concentration of analytes. Injection volumes up to 2.0 ml (equivalent to 0.525 ml of sample) can be used without compromising chromatographic resolution of all-trans-retinoic acid and 13-cis-retinoic acid. Retinoids were stable in this extract and showed no isomerization when stored in the dark in a cooled autosampler, allowing automated analysis of large series of samples. Recoveries from spiked plasma samples were between 95 and 103%. Although no internal standard was used, the inter-assay precision for all retinoids was better than 6% and 4% at concentrations of 30 nM and 100 nM, respectively. The method is a valuable tool for the study of cellular metabolism of all-trans-retinoic acid, as polar metabolites of this compound can be detected with high sensitivity in cell culture media.