Metabolism of retinol to retinoic acid by rabbit tracheal epithelial (RTE) cells in culture

Journal Article · Tue Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1985 · Fed. Proc., Fed. Am. Soc. Exp. Biol.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6796943

Jetten, A M; Bhat, P V

The ability of RTE cells in culture to metabolize retinol (ROL) to active metabolites was investigated in order to examine the role of such putative metabolites in the inhibition of squamous cell differentiation by ROL. After incubation of RTE cells with free ROL or ROL bound to serum ROL binding protein or to albumin, a substantial amount of ROL was taken up by the cells. The presence of the serum proteins reduced the uptake of ROL about twelve-fold. Polar and apolar metabolites of ROL were analyzed via high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). HPLC of polar metabolites revealed that 7-23% of total cell-associated radioactivity eluted in the area of retinoic acid (RA). This radioactive metabolite fraction yielded upon methylation, methylretinoate (MeRA) as judged by co-chromatography with standard MeRA, indicating the conversion of ROL to RA in RTE cells. RTE cells also esterified ROL to retinylpalmitate and metabolized ROL to polar metabolites. ROL in the medium completely degraded within 3 hours of incubation. The authors data indicate that RTE cells in culture convert ROL to RA and are in agreement with the idea that the action of ROL is mediated by its active metabolite retinoic acid. The low activity of ROL, as compared to RA, in blocking the terminal differentiation of RTE cells may be due the rapid breakdown of ROL in the medium and to the insufficient production of RA from ROL by the cells.

• Research Organization: National Institute, Environmental Health Science, Research Triangle Park, NC
• OSTI ID: 6796943
• Report Number(s): CONF-8604222-
• Journal Information: Fed. Proc., Fed. Am. Soc. Exp. Biol.; (United States), Journal Name: Fed. Proc., Fed. Am. Soc. Exp. Biol.; (United States) Vol. 45:4; ISSN FEPRA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550501* -- Metabolism-- Tracer Techniques
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ANIMAL TISSUES
ANIMALS
BODY
CARBOXYLIC ACID ESTERS
CELL CULTURES
CELL DIFFERENTIATION
CHROMATOGRAPHY
EPITHELIUM
ESTERS
INHIBITION
LIQUID COLUMN CHROMATOGRAPHY
MAMMALS
METABOLISM
METABOLITES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PROTEINS
RABBITS
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
RETINOIC ACID
SEPARATION PROCESSES
TISSUES
TRACHEA
VERTEBRATES