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Retinoids induce apoptosis in cultured keratinocytes
T C Islam1, T Skarin, S Sumitran
1Department of Biosciences and Center for Biotechnology, Huddinge Hospital, Division of Clinical Immunology, Karolinska Institutet, SE-141 86 Huddinge, Sweden.
The British Journal of Dermatology
|November 9, 2000
Summary
Retinoids can trigger apoptosis, programmed cell death, in mouse keratinocytes. This occurs during differentiation, suggesting apoptosis is a separate process from differentiation, influenced by complex cellular factors.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
- Dermatology
Background:
- Apoptosis is a regulated cellular process crucial for growth and differentiation.
- It is initiated by various internal and external signals.
- Understanding apoptosis mechanisms is vital in cell biology and disease.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the capacity of retinoids to induce apoptosis in BALB/MK mouse keratinocytes.
- To explore the role of specific retinoids in programmed cell death.
- To analyze the relationship between retinoid-induced apoptosis and keratinocyte differentiation.
Main Methods:
- Cell viability was assessed using flow cytometry.
- Apoptosis was detected through various staining techniques and the TUNEL assay.
- Keratinocyte cultures were exposed to retinoids and calcium to stimulate differentiation.
Main Results:
- Retinoids induced apoptosis in keratinocytes when combined with differentiation stimuli and high extracellular calcium.
- Specific retinoids, 3,4-didehydroretinoic acid and 3-methyl-tetrahydro-tetramethyl-naphthylenyl-propenyl benzoic acid, were potent inducers.
- Apoptosis induction was not directly correlated with tissue or epidermal transglutaminase expression.
- Expression levels of bcl-2 and Bax proteins remained unchanged, indicating complex regulatory pathways.
Conclusions:
- Retinoids acting through retinoic acid receptors or retinoid X receptors can induce apoptosis in keratinocytes.
- The induction of apoptosis by retinoids appears to be a distinct biological process, separate from their known inhibitory effect on keratinocyte differentiation.
- The regulation of retinoid-induced apoptosis is complex and multifactorial.