The biological effects of retinoids on cell differentiation and proliferation

Biodegradable Elastomers with Antioxidant and Retinoid-like Properties

Intimal hyperplasia (IH) is a type of scarring that involves complex pathophysiological responses of the vasculature to injury, including overproliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), adventitial fibroblasts, and the activation of macrophages. The objective of this research was to develop a biodegradable polymer with intrinsic properties that would combat the cellular processes that contribute to IH. Citric acid, 1,8-octanediol, and all-trans retinoic acid (atRA) were incorporated into a polyester network via a condensation reaction to form the thermoset poly(1,8-octamethylene-citrate-co-retinate) (POCR). POCR was chemically characterized and assessed for the presence of antioxidant and retinoidlike properties. ^HNMR and ATR-FTIR confirmed the incorporation of atRA into the backbone of the polymer network. POCR was able to scavenge radicals and inhibit lipid peroxidation. The proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells cultured on POCR were inhibited, whereas endothelial cell proliferation and migration were not. These results are consistent with the biological effects of atRA. These results are the first to demonstrate the synthesis of a polymer with intrinsic antirestenotic properties for potential use in the fabrication of vascular devices such as stents and vascular grafts.

Periadventitial atRA citrate-based polyester membranes reduce neointimal hyperplasia and restenosis after carotid injury in rats

Oral all-trans retinoic acid (atRA) has been shown to reduce the formation of neointimal hyperplasia; however, the dose required was 30 times the chemotherapeutic dose, which already has reported side effects. As neointimal formation is a localized process, new approaches to localized delivery are required. This study assessed whether atRA within a citrate-based polyester, poly(1,8 octanediolcitrate) (POC), perivascular membrane would prevent neointimal hyperplasia following arterial injury. atRA-POC membranes were prepared and characterized for atRA release via high-performance liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry detection. Rat adventitial fibroblasts (AF) and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) were exposed to various concentrations of atRA; proliferation, apoptosis, and necrosis were assessed in vitro. The rat carotid artery balloon injury model was used to evaluate the impact of the atRA-POC membranes on neointimal formation, cell proliferation, apoptosis, macrophage infiltration, and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) expression in vivo. atRA-POC membranes released 12 μg of atRA over 2 wk, with 92% of the release occurring in the first week. At 24 h, atRA (200 μmol/l) inhibited [(3)H]-thymidine incorporation into AF and VSMC by 78% and 72%, respectively (*P = 0.001), with negligible apoptosis or necrosis. Histomorphometry analysis showed that atRA-POC membranes inhibited neointimal formation after balloon injury, with a 56%, 57%, and 50% decrease in the intimal area, intima-to-media area ratio, and percent stenosis, respectively (P = 0.001). atRA-POC membranes had no appreciable effect on apoptosis or proliferation at 2 wk. Regarding biocompatibility, we found a 76% decrease in macrophage infiltration in the intima layer (P < 0.003) in animals treated with atRA-POC membranes, with a coinciding 53% reduction in VCAM-1 staining (P < 0.001). In conclusion, perivascular delivery of atRA inhibited neointimal formation and restenosis. These data suggest that atRA-POC membranes may be suitable as localized therapy to inhibit neointimal hyperplasia following open cardiovascular procedures.

Topical retinoids in skin ageing: a focused update with reference to sun-induced epidermal vitamin A deficiency

Vitamin A is an important constituent of the epidermis, where it plays a crucial role in epidermal turnover. A deficiency of epidermal vitamin A may be the consequence of nutritional vitamin A deficiency, exposure to sunlight or any UV source, oxidative stress or chronological ageing. As a consequence, any treatment aiming at increasing epidermal vitamin A would exert a protective effect against these deleterious conditions. Retinoids may counteract some deleterious actions of UV radiation by physical and biological mechanisms. Topical natural retinoic acid precursors such as retinaldehyde or retinol are less irritant than acidic retinoids and may prevent epidermal vitamin A deficiency due to nutritional deficiency, exposure to sunlight or any condition leading to free radical production. Retinoids may be combined with other compounds with complementary actions against ageing, nutritional deficiency and cancer, such as antioxidants, to potentiate their beneficial effects in the skin.

Effects of liarozole fumarate (R85246) in combination with tamoxifen on N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU)-induced mammary carcinoma and uterus in the rat model

Background

Liarozole fumarate (liarozole – R85246) is a novel compound with characteristics of both aromatase inhibitor (AI) and a retinoic acid metabolism blocking agent (RAMBA). Our objective was to determine the effects of liarozole alone or in combination with tamoxifen on the N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU)-induced rat mammary carcinoma model, as well as on the uterus in ovariectomized immature rats.

Methods

(1) Tumor burden experiments: Animals bearing one or more tumors greater than 10 mm in diameter were treated for 56 consecutive days with 20 mg/kg or 80 mg/kg of liarozole by oral gavage, tamoxifen 100 μg/kg by subcutaneous injection, or a combination of liarozole and tamoxifen. At the end of the treatment period, total cumulative tumor volume as well as retinoic acid levels were measured. (2) Uterotrophic assay and proliferation experiments: 21-day-old ovariectomized (OVX) Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with 20 mg/kg or 80 mg/kg of liarozole by oral gavage, tamoxifen 1 mg/kg by subcutaneous injection, and combination of both for 4 consecutive days. At the end of the treatment period, uterine weight, epithelial lining cell height and indices of proliferation cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) were measured.

Results

The tumor burden experiments in rats bearing estrogen receptor (ER) positive mammary tumours showed that liarozole has a marked anti-tumour effect. In combination with tamoxifen, liarozole had neither an additive nor an antagonistic effect. However, liarozole markedly reduced the uterotrophic effects induced by tamoxifen.

Conclusion

Liarozole's antitumor effects on ER positive mammary tumors and its protective effect on the uterus merit further studies to confirm its clinical value in combination with tamoxifen in ER positive postmenopausal breast cancer. Liarozole and other retinomimetics might also be suitable chemoprevention drugs in combination with tamoxifen because of their favorable toxicity profile.

9-cis-retinoic acid inhibits activation-driven T-cell apoptosis: implications for retinoid X receptor involvement in thymocyte development

Retinoic acid is a morphogenetic signaling molecule derived from vitamin A and involved in vertebrate development. Two groups of receptors, retinoic acid receptors and retinoid X receptors (RXRs), have been identified. All-trans-retinoic acid is the high-affinity ligand for retinoic acid receptors, and 9-cis-retinoic acid additionally binds RXRs with high affinity. Here we report that although retinoic acid has little inhibitory effect on activation-induced T-cell proliferation, it specifically prevents activation-induced apoptosis of T-cell hybridomas and antigen-specific deletion of immature CD4+CD8+ thymocytes from alpha beta T-cell receptor transgenic mice. 9-cis-Retinoic acid was approximately 10-fold more potent than all-trans-retinoic acid, suggesting that RXRs participate in this process. Thus, although 9-cis-retinoic acid has little immuno-suppressive activity, it is a potent negative regulator of activation-induced T-cell apoptosis, raising the possibility that RXRs may take part in regulating T-cell development.