Lipoprotein lipase enzyme expression in 3T3-L1 adipocytes is posttranscriptionally down-regulated by retinoic acid

The effects of all-trans retinoic acid (RA) on the lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity, synthesis and mRNA content in 3T3-L1 adipocytes were studied. When fully differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes were exposed to RA, dose-dependent suppression of LPL activity was observed. The loss of activity reached a maximum of 60% of the control level and appeared to be due to an effect on synthesis of the enzyme, as judged from the decreased incorporation of [35S] methionine and [35S] cysteine into immunoprecipitable LPL. The LPL mRNA level remained unchanged under the same conditions. In contrast, no significant reduction in glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase activity or change in the morphological signature occurred on 24 hr exposure of 3T3-L1 adipocytes to RA. These results suggest that RA can specifically down-regulate LPL enzyme expression in adipocytes at the posttranscriptional level.