Cellular Retinol-binding Protein mRNA Research Articles

Characterization of a cellular retinol-binding protein from lamprey, Lethenteron japonicum

Lampreys are ancestral representatives of vertebrates known as jawless fish. The Japanese lamprey, Lethenteron japonicum, is a parasitic member of the lampreys known to store large amounts of vitamin A within its body. How this storage is achieved, however, is wholly unknown. Within the body, the absorption, transfer and metabolism of vitamin A are regulated by a family of proteins called retinoid-binding proteins. Here we have cloned a cDNA for cellular retinol-binding protein (CRBP) from the Japanese lamprey, and phylogenetic analysis suggests that lamprey CRBP is an ancestor of both CRBP I and II. The lamprey CRBP protein was expressed in bacteria and purified. Binding of the lamprey CRBP to retinol (Kd of 13.2 nM) was identified by fluorimetric titration. However, results obtained with the protein fluorescence quenching technique indicated that lamprey CRBP does not bind to retinal. Northern blot analysis showed that lamprey CRBP mRNA was ubiquitously expressed, although expression was most abundant in the intestine. Together, these results suggest that lamprey CRBP has an important role in absorbing vitamin A from the blood of host animals.

Expression of retinol-binding protein and cellular retinol-binding protein in the bovine ovary.

Retinol (vitamin A) is essential for reproduction, and retinoids have been suggested to play a role in ovarian steroidogenesis, oocyte maturation, and early embryonic development. Retinol is transported systemically and intercellularly by retinol-binding protein (RBP). Within the cell, cellular retinol-binding protein (CRBP) functions in retinol accumulation and metabolism. Since the actions of retinoids are mediated, in part, by retinoid-binding proteins, the objective of this study was to investigate cell-specific expression of RBP and CRBP in the bovine ovary. Immunocytochemical analysis (ICC) localized RBP to the thecal and granulosa cell layers of antral and preantral follicles with the most intense staining in the cells of large, healthy follicles. The tunica adventitia of arterial blood vessels also exhibited RBP staining. Immunostaining of CRBP was most intense in the granulosa cells of preantral follicles and present, but diminished, in thecal and granulosa cells of antral follicles. Within the corpus luteum, both proteins were observed in large luteal cells, but only RBP was observed in small luteal cells. Northern blot analysis demonstrated that thecal and granulosa cells from antral follicles and luteal tissue expressed RBP and CRBP mRNA. Synthesis and secretion of RBP by thecal cells, granulosa cells, and luteal cells were demonstrated by immune-complex precipitation of radiolabeled RBP from the medium of cultured cells or explants, followed by SDS-PAGE and fluorography. Follicular fluid was collected from small (<5 mm) and large (8-14 mm) follicles, pooled according to follicular size, and analyzed for retinol, RBP, estradiol-17beta, and progesterone. Concentrations of retinol, RBP, and estradiol were greater in the fluid of large follicles. Results demonstrate retinoid-binding protein expression by bovine ovaries and provide physical evidence that supports the concept that retinoids play a role in ovarian function.

Iron Deficiency and Marginal Vitamin A Deficiency Affect Growth, Hematological Indices and the Regulation of Iron Metabolism Genes in Rats

Iron deficiency and marginal vitamin A (VA) deficiency frequently coexist and affect billions of people, mostly children and women, worldwide. The effects of these micronutrient deficiencies alone and in combination on hematologic, biochemical and molecular indices of iron and VA status were investigated in a 2 x 2 randomized blocked study conducted in growing male Sprague-Dawley rats. From 3-8 wk of age, rats were fed one of four purified diets that were either adequate or restricted in iron (Fe) and adequate or marginal in VA: (+)Fe(+)VA, 20.3 and 0.367 micro g/g, respectively, denoted control diet; (-)Fe(+)VA, 3.34 and 0.405 micro g/g; (+)FeVA(m), 22.2 and 0.051 micro g/g; or (-)FeVA(m), 3.03 and 0.055 micro g/g. Weight-matched rats fed adequate micronutrients were included to control for possible confounding effects of Fe deficiency on growth and feed efficiency. Iron restriction reduced (P < 0.05) weight gain, feed efficiency, blood hemoglobin and hematocrit. Plasma and liver iron and plasma transferrin saturation were reduced by approximately 50%, whereas liver transferrin mRNA and protein and transferrin receptor mRNA were elevated, as was liver ferritin light-chain protein and light-chain mRNA. Liver heavy-chain ferritin mRNA, hemopexin, ceruloplasmin and cellular retinol-binding protein mRNA were not affected by iron or VA restriction. Although marginal VA deficiency did not exacerbate indices of poor iron status during iron deficiency, iron deficiency was associated with lower plasma retinol and elevated liver VA concentrations. These results are consistent with an impaired mobilization of liver retinol during iron deficiency as well as multiple alterations in iron metabolism.

Prenatal Ethanol Consumption Increases Retinol and Cellular Retinol-Binding Protein Expression in the Rat Fetal Snout

Fetal exposure to ethanol disrupts normal craniofacial development, resulting in characteristic features of fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). One mechanism that could result in some anomalies of this syndrome is through ethanol disrupting the regulatory role played by vitamin A in fetal development, thereby inducing morphological alterations which manifest as FAS. This work begins to explore a possible interaction of ethanol with vitamin A in craniofacial development. Retinoid levels and the expression of cellular retinol-binding protein (CRBP) and retinoic acid receptor (RAR) mRNA were determined in snouts of 20-day fetuses exposed to ethanol throughout gestation, compared to controls. Snout retinol and retinyl palmitate levels were elevated in fetuses of ethanol-treated rats, but retinoic acid levels were unaffected. The expression of CRBP mRNA, as determined by Northern analysis, was greater in snouts of fetuses exposed to ethanol, but there was no change in RAR α, β, γ or retinoid X receptor β mRNA. These results demonstrate that prenatal ethanol consumption can alter certain markers of vitamin A metabolism and function in the fetal snout.

Regulation of Hepatic Vitamin A Storage in a Rat Model of Controlled Vitamin A Status during Aging

It is currently unknown whether the capacity of the liver to esterify and store vitamin A (VA) changes as a function of long-term VA intake or age. The objective of this study was to investigate whether age and/or VA status are factors for the hepatic expression of cellular retinol-binding protein (CRBP), the esterification of retinol by lecithin:retinol acyltransferase (LRAT) and the accumulation of VA and lipids in liver. Two factors, VA intake and age, were studied in a 3x3 design. Diets denoted as VA-marginal, control and supplemented contained 0.35, 4 and 25 mg retinol equivalents/kg diet, respectively; male Lewis rats were fed these diets from weaning until the ages of 2-3 mo (young), 8-10 mo (middle-aged) and 18-20 mo (old) (n = 6/group. Liver CRBP mRNA differed (two-way ANOVA) with dietary VA (P<0.0001) and age (P<0.05). Hepatic LRAT activity increased with dietary VA (P<0.0001). Age was not a factor (P = 0.47) although there was an interaction of age and dietary VA (P<0.0001). Hepatic LRAT activity was correlated (r = 0.633, P<0.0001) with plasma retinol at physiologic concentrations. In VA-supplemented rats of all ages, the plasma molar ratio of total retinol:retinol-binding protein (RBP) exceeded 1, and liver VA and total lipid concentrations were elevated. However, tests of liver function had previously been shown to be within normal values. Thus, the capacity of the liver for retinol esterification by LRAT was not diminished by age or the accumulation of VA and other lipids. We conclude the following: 1) hepatic LRAT activity is regulated across a broad, physiologic range of dietary VA; 2) LRAT activity is regulated throughout life; and 3) the capacity for hepatic VA storage is high throughout life.

Coexpression of the mRNAs encoding retinol dehydrogenase isozymes and cellular retinol-binding protein.

We used in situ hybridization of adult rat tissue to show that mRNAs encoding cellular retinol-binding protein (CRBP) and retinol dehydrogenase (RoDH) isozymes I/III and II were expressed in hepatocytes uniformly throughout the liver lobule, but were absent from Kupffer cells and endothelial cells of blood vessels and bile ducts. In kidney, CRBP, RoDH(I), and RoDH(II) were found in the proximal tubules of the cortex. Distal tubules, Henle's loops, collecting ducts, and glomeruli showed little, if any, expression. In testis, CRBP, RoDH(I), and RoDH(II) were found in Sertoli cells. Expression, albeit weaker, also occurred in spermatogonia and primary spermatocytes. Peritubular cells and other germ cells had even weaker expression. Only CRBP and RoDH(II) mRNA were detected in interstitial cells. In lung CRBP, RoDH(I) and RoDH(II) were expressed most intensely in the epithelium of the bronchi and bronchioli, but also occurred in the simple columnar epithelial cells of the alveolar duct and in alveolar type II cells. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that holo-CRBP serves as substrate for retinoic acid biosynthesis because they show that the substrate and the enzyme occur in the same cellular loci in vivo. These data also indicate that multiple cellular sites of retinoic acid biosynthesis occur throughout tissues. Also, the general concordance between mRNA localization and CRBP expression patterns, revealed by previous immunocytochemistry studies, supports and extends the conclusion that CRBP mRNA expression correlates with CRBP expression, based earlier on comparing RNA assays with radioimmunoassays.

EFFECT OF RETINOIC ACID ON EMBRYONIC RAT LUNG BRANCHING MORPHOGENESIS.† 2075

Retinoic acid (RA) has both morphogenetic and gene regulatory properties. We hypothesized that RA may act as an epigenetic signaling agent in branching morphogenesis of the lung. The following studies were conducted to determine the dose response of RA treatment on embryonic rat lung explants with respect to branching morphogenesis. lung cell differentiation as determined by routine light microscopy, and the expression of cellular retinol-binding protein(CRBP). a mediator of retinoid function. Embryonic rat lungs were collected on gestational day 11.5-12.0 (term = 22 days) and cultured in a serum-free medium. Experimental manipulation of the culture system consisted of addition of 10-6-10-8M RA beginning 3-4 hours after initial culture and every 24 hours thereafter for 96 hours. Control explants were maintained in medium alone for 96 hours. Embryonic rat lungs were collected also on gestational day 13.0 as an in vivo control. All explants were photographed daily for 72 hours. Explants from similar treatment groups were pooled at 96 hours for RNA isolation for northern blot hybridization with the rat cDNA for CRBP. The general growth of the explants was comparable in the four groups at 72 hours. There were no significant differences in number of end buds in RA-treated explants relative to controls at 24 hours. By 48 hours, however, the number of end buds was significantly increased in each group of RA-treated explants relative to controls (C=9.2±0.9, 10-6M RA=14.9±1.4*. [Illegible Text] RA=15.9±1.5*. 10-8M RA=16.1±1.4*, where *P≤0.001). At 72 hours, only explants treated with 10-8M RA demonstrated increased end buds relative to controls (C=31.6±3.2, 10-8M RA=55.9±3.9,P≤0.001). Light microscopy demonstrated that airway epithelium was more cuboidal with some cilia and fewer cytoplasmic vacuoles in explants treated with 10-6M RA. CRBP mRNA was detected in the day 13.0 lungin vivo and remained in control explants maintained in culture for 96 hours. CRBP mRNA abundance increased 2-3 fold in response to RA at all concentrations utilized. We conclude that 1) RA treatment of embryonic rat lung explants appears to increase branching morphogenesis and airway epithelial differentiation over a 72-hour period. and 2) early embryonic rat lungs contain mRNA for CRBP and that RA increases the expression of this genein vitro. These data support a role for retinoids, specifically RA, in early lung development. (Supported by American Lung Association Research Grant).

Prenatal ethanol consumption alters the expression of cellular retinol binding protein and retinoic acid receptor mRNA in fetal rat embryo and brain.

The mechanism by which prenatal ethanol ingestion causes fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is unknown. We hypothesize that ethanol disrupts the normal function of retinoids in embryogenesis and differentiation, resulting in FAS. The present work was designed to determine if prenatal ethanol ingestion affects the expression of cellular retinol binding protein (CRBP) and nuclear retinoic acid receptors (RARs). Paired timed pregnant rats were fed a liquid diet, one group treated with 36% of carbohydrate calories replaced with ethanol. Maternal serum retinol concentrations during pregnancy peaked on the 6th day of pregnancy, but no difference was noted between the ethanol and control group. At the 12th and 20th day of gestation, embryos or fetal brain were removed, and RNA was isolated for Northern hybridization. The abundance of CRBP mRNA was significantly elevated by ethanol consumption. In both the 12-day embryo (relative density of control: 1.00 +/- 0.10; vs. ethanol: 1.87 +/- 0.30, p < 0.05) and 20-day fetal brain (relative density of control: 1.00 +/- 0.09; vs. ethanol: 1.46 +/- 0.09, p < 0.01). In the embryo, ethanol ingestion resulted in a decrease in the level of RAR-beta mRNA (control: 1.00 +/- 0.05; vs. ethanol: 0.71 +/- 0.07, p < 0.01), but had no effect on RAR-alpha or RAR-gamma mRNA. In contrast to the embryo, the expression of both the 3.7- and 2.7-kb RAR-alpha transcripts was significantly greater in day 20 fetal brain of ethanol-treated rats (3.7-kb RAR-alpha control: 1.00 +/- 0.11; vs. ethanol: 1.65 +/- 0.06; p < 0.001; 2.7-kb RAR-alpha control: 1.00 +/- 0.14; vs. ethanol: 1.74 +/- 0.27, p < 0.05), whereas RAR-beta and RAR-gamma expression were not altered. These observations suggest that altered vitamin A function is a potential factor in the embryopathy of prenatal ethanol exposure.

Retinoids, retinoic acid receptors, and cytoplasmic retinoid binding proteins in perinatal rat lung fibroblasts.

The early postnatal life of most mammals marks a period of extensive enlargement of the alveolar surface area and increase in the elastin content of the lung. The factors that regulate the onset and abatement of this burst of elastin synthesis have not been identified. Previous studies of lipid-laden rat pulmonary interstitial fibroblasts (LIF) have shown that their elastin synthesis is increased in vitro by retinoic acid (RA). We hypothesized that temporal changes in the endogenous RA content of LIF may correlate with changes in elastin synthesis by these cells. LIF were isolated from the lungs of rats at gestational day 19 and postnatal days 2, 4, 8, and 12 and their retinoid contents were quantitated. Retinyl esters were highest at gestational day 19 (2.9 +/- 0.6 pmol/10(6) cells, means +/- SE) and decreased to 1.6 +/- 0.2 pmol by postnatal day 2 (P < 0.05). This decrease in retinyl esters was accompanied by an increase in retinol from 0.4 +/- 0.1 to 2.0 +/- 0.6 pmol/10(6) cells (P < 0.05). RA increased in LIF from 0.07 +/- 0.04 pmol/10(6) cells at gestational day 19 to 0.29 +/- 0.05 pmol/10(6) cells at postnatal day 2 (P < 0.05) and increased in whole lung tissue from 0.07 +/- 0.04 to 0.29 +/- 0.05 nmol/g, over the same interval. The increase in RA content was accompanied by an increase in RA receptor (RAR)-beta and -gamma mRNAs. The steady-state mRNA level of cellular retinol binding protein (CRBP) was high in LIF, relative to whole lung tissue at day 2. Cellular RA binding protein (CRABP) mRNA rose fourfold from day 2 to day 8 and then fell by day 12. In summary, RA, RAR, and CRBP mRNA in LIF are highest before the period of maximal elastin synthesis, which occurs at postnatal days 8 and 12. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that endogenous RA could contribute to the postnatal increase in elastin production by pulmonary fibroblasts.

All-Trans Retinoic Acid Induces Cellular Retinol-Binding Protein in Human Skin In Vivo

We examined the regulation of cellular retinol-binding protein (CRBP) mRNA and protein expression in human skin in vivo by all-trans retinoic acid and all-trans retinol. Treatment of human skin for 24 h with all-trans retinoic acid (0.1%) or all-trans retinol (1.6%) induced CRBP mRNA 5.5-fold (p < 0.01, n = 10) and 5.7-fold (p < 0.01, n = 5), respectively, compared with skin treated with vehicle or sodium lauryl sulfate (used as an irritant control). In vitro translation of poly A+ RNA from all-trans retinoic acid, all-trans retinol, sodium lauryl sulfate, and vehicle-treated human skin demonstrated that the observed increased CRBP mRNA in all-trans retinoic acid- and all-trans retinol-treated skin was able to direct increased (2.3-2.9-fold) CRBP protein synthesis. Riboprobe in situ hybridization revealed that CRBP mRNA was uniformly elevated throughout the epidermis and in dermal cells after all-trans retinoic acid treatment of human skin. Western analysis revealed that CRBP protein was elevated 3.2-fold (p < 0.01, n = 6) and 3.0-fold (p < 0.01, n = 6) after all-trans retinoic acid treatment of human skin in vivo for 24 and 96 h, respectively, compared with vehicle- and sodium lauryl sulfate-treated skin. In addition, functional CRBP levels measured by [3H]all-trans retinol binding were elevated 1.9-fold (p < 0.01, n = 6) and 3.5-fold (p < 0.01, n = 6) at 24 and 94 h, respectively, after all-trans retinoic acid treatment, compared with vehicle- or sodium lauryl sulfate-treated skin. Gel mobility shift analysis revealed that retinoid receptors in nuclear extracts from human skin formed a specific complex with a DNA probe containing the retinoic acid response element in the mouse CRBP gene. Monoclonal antibodies to nuclear retinoid receptors demonstrated that predominantly retinoic acid receptor-alpha/retinoid X receptor-alpha heterodimers bound to the CRBP retinoic acid response element. These data demonstrate that CRBP expression in human skin in vivo is regulated by exogenous all-trans retinoic acid and all-trans retinol.

Serum factors induce messenger ribonucleic acid levels for cellular retinol-binding protein in rat Sertoli cells.

This report shows that serum factors dramatically increase the levels of mRNA for cellular retinol-binding protein (CRBP) in cultured rat Sertoli cells. Incubation of rat Sertoli cells (0-24 h) with 10% fetal calf serum (FCS) was associated with a time-dependent increase in CRBP mRNA levels. A significant increase (6-fold) was observed after 3 h of incubation. Maximal levels (15- to 50-fold) were reached after 9-12 h and were maintained for as long as serum was present. The effect was concentration dependent, with maximal induction at 10% FCS. Removal of FCS resulted in a decline in the CRBP mRNA levels, with a t1/2 of approximately 7 h. The CRBP mRNA stimulating activity (CMSA) was completely removed from FCS by precipitation with 5% trichloroacetic acid, but was only partly (50%) inhibited by heating at 100 C or trypsin treatment. Removal of retinol from FCS by repeated ether extractions did not alter the CMSA of FCS. Both the induction and degradation of CRBP mRNA were inhibited by the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide. A nuclear protein binding to the 5'-flanking region of the CRBP gene was detected in nuclear extracts from untreated Sertoli cells, but not in nuclear extracts from Sertoli cells treated with 10% FCS for 3 h. Thus, serum factors, different from retinoids, dramatically stimulate the levels of CRBP mRNA in rat Sertoli cells. This is associated with the loss of protein binding to the 5'-flanking region of the CRBP gene.

Retinoids and retinoid-binding protein expression in rat adipocytes.

Adipose tissue has been reported to contain relatively high levels of the specific mRNA for retinol-binding protein (RBP) (Makover A., Soprano, D.R., Wyatt, M. L., and Goodman, D.S. (1989) J. Lipid Res. 30, 171-180). Studies were conducted to explore retinoid and retinoid-binding protein storage and metabolism in adipose tissue. In these studies, we measured RBP and cellular retinol-binding protein (CRBP) mRNA levels and retinoid levels in 6 adipose depots in male rats. Total RNA was isolated from inguinal, dorsal, mesenteric, epididymal, perinephric, and brown adipose tissue, and average RBP and CRBP mRNA levels were determined by Northern blot analysis. The relative levels of RBP mRNA in these 6 anatomically different adipose depots averaged, respectively, 6.3, 6.7, 16, 34, 37, and 21% of the level in a rat liver RNA standard. Retinoid levels in the 6 depots were similar and averaged approximately 6-7 micrograms of retinol eq/g of adipose tissue. Since adipose tissue contains several cell types, the cellular localizations of RBP and CRBP expression and retinoid storage were examined. RNA was prepared from isolated rat adipocytes and stromal-vascular cells. Cellular levels of the mRNAs for RBP, CRBP, apolipoprotein E (apoE), lipoprotein lipase, adipocyte P2, and adipsin were measured by Northern blot analysis. RBP was expressed almost exclusively in the adipocytes and only weakly in the stromal-vascular cells. Both CRBP and apoE mRNA levels were relatively high in the stromal-vascular cell preparations and only very low mRNA levels were found in the adipocytes. Lipoprotein lipase, adipsin, and adipocyte P2 mRNAs were found in substantial levels in both the adipocytes and stromal-vascular cells, but with higher levels present in the adipocytes. Cultured adipocytes synthesized RBP protein and secreted it into the medium. Only adipocytes (not stromal-vascular cells) contained retinol, at levels between 0.65-0.8 micrograms of retinol eq/10(6) cells. These studies demonstrate that adipocytes store retinoid and synthesize and secrete RBP, and suggest that rat adipocytes may be dynamically involved in retinoid storage and metabolism.

Opposing Effects of Retinoic Acid and Dexamethasone on Cellular Retinol-Binding Protein Ribonucleic Acid Levels in the Rat*

Cellular retinol-binding protein (CRBP) is a potential mediator of vitamin A action. To determine whether retinoic acid and dexamethasone administration, alone and in combination, influence CRBP gene expression, adult female vitamin A-sufficient Sprague-Dawley rats randomly received 1) all-trans retinoic acid (100 micrograms) by intragastric intubation, 2) dexamethasone (2 micrograms/g BW) by ip injection, or 3) both all-trans retinoic acid and dexamethasone in the same doses. Control animals received either cottonseed oil by intragastric intubation or saline by ip injection. Six hours after treatment, lung and liver tissue were collected for Northern blot analysis with the radiolabeled cDNA specific for rat CRBP. Retinoic acid administration increased the amount of lung CRBP mRNA only, whereas dexamethasone decreased both lung and liver CRBP mRNA abundance. In animals treated with both retinoic acid and dexamethasone, CRBP mRNA abundance was also reduced. We conclude that CRBP gene expression can be modulated by both retinoic acid and dexamethasone in the vitamin A-sufficient animal. In the whole animal, our findings indicate that dexamethasone not only represses CRBP gene expression, but also opposes the effect of retinoic acid.

Vitamin A intake and in vivo expression of the genes involved in retinol transport

Two different metabolic alterations in vitamin A status are known to cause changes in the amount of circulating retinol-binding protein (RBP) and cellular retinol-binding protein (CRBP) in experimental animals; namely vitamin A deficiency, characterized by depleted retinol-liver stores and hypervitaminosis A, characterized by hepatic accumulation of retinyl esters. We have induced vitamin A deficiency and hypervitaminosis A in two groups of rats with the aim of determining whether the expression of the genes coding for these two proteins might be directly regulated by retinol. Using human RBP and CRBP cDNAs as probes, we measured the rate of transcription of the two genes in liver nuclei from control and treated rats by run-on transcription assays, and the steady-state level of the mRNAs by Northern blot analysis of total liver RNA. The distribution profile of RBP and CRBP mRNAs on fractionated liver polysomes was also examined. We have found a threefold decrease in the hepatic level of CRBP mRNA in vitamin-A-deficient animals, while the RBP mRNA is not affected by this nutritional deprivation. The decreases does not correspond to a lower transcription rate of the gene and therefore it is likely to result from lower stability of the CRBP mRNA. In hypervitaminosis A, we do not observe any differences in both the steady-state level of the mRNAs and in the rate of transcription of the two genes. The results are discussed in terms of retinol-dependent stabilization of the mRNA coding for CRBP.

Localization of Cellular Retinol-Binding Protein mRNA in Rat Testis and Epididymis and its Stage-Dependent Expression during the Cycle of the Seminiferous Epithelium1

Anatomical localization of cellular retinol-binding protein (CRBP) mRNA was examined in normal rat testis and epididymis and also in retinoid-deficient rat testis. In situ hybridization was performed with 35S-labeled rat CRBP cRNA probes on frozen tissue sections. In normal testis, CRBP mRNA was mainly localized in the Sertoli cells and to some extent in peritubular cells. A distinct cyclic variation of the relative levels of hybridizable CRBP mRNA was observed during the spermatogenic cycle. The peak of CRBP mRNA content was seen in the stages of the cycle that preceded those in which peak CRBP protein content had been observed previously in our laboratory by immunohistochemistry. No appreciable amount of CRBP mRNA was observed in the interstitial space or in the lumen of the tubules. CRBP mRNA displayed the same anatomical localization in the retinoid-deficient testis, but the level of hybridizable CRBP mRNA was substantially reduced. A strong hybridization signal for CRBP mRNA was seen in proximal epididymis and was strikingly localized in the ductular epithelium. CRBP mRNA was not detectable in the distal portion of the epididymis. These studies provide information about the cell-specific expression of CRBP synthesis within the testis and epididymis and about its cyclic variation and regulation.

Cellular retinol-binding protein messenger RNA levels in normal and retinoid-deficient rats.

A study was conducted to determine the levels of cellular retinol-binding protein (CRBP) mRNA and protein in various tissues of the rat, to explore relationship between CRBP mRNA and protein levels in different tissues, and to examine the effects of changes in retinol nutritional status on the tissue distribution and levels of CRBP mRNA. Previous studies have shown that tissue CRBP protein levels are reduced in totally retinoid-deficient rats, but are otherwise minimally affected by changes in retinoid status. Three groups of male rats were compared: normal controls, retinoid-deficient, and retinol-repleted deficient rats. CRBP mRNA levels were measured by RNase protection assay and CRBP protein levels by radioimmunoassay in seven tissues. High levels of both CRBP mRNA and CRBP protein were found in the proximal epididymis, kidney, and liver; lower levels were seen in lung, testis, spleen, and small intestine. Tissue CRBP mRNA and protein levels were highly correlated (P less than 0.01) with each other. Retinoid deficiency did not alter the levels of CRBP mRNA found in the proximal epididymis, kidney, and liver. In contrast, CRBP mRNA levels in the lung, testis, spleen, and small intestine were reduced substantially in retinoid-deficient rats, to values that were only 23% to 50% of the corresponding values in the tissues of control rats. After oral repletion with retinol (4-18 h earlier), CRBP mRNA levels for these latter four tissues were found to have risen to control or near-control levels. The suggestion is raised that retinol repletion may have directly induced the expression of the CRBP gene in these particular tissues.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Regulation of the Cellular Retinoid-Binding Proteins and Their Messenger Ribonucleic Acids during P19 Embryonal Carcinoma Cell Differentiation Induced by Retinoic Acid

P19 embryonal carcinoma (EC) cells can be induced to differentiate in vitro into a variety of cell types by treatment with different concentrations of retinoic acid (RA). A study was conducted to explore the regulation of expression of the genes for cellular retinoic acid-binding protein (CRABP) and cellular retinol-binding protein (CRBP) in P19 cells induced to differentiate by RA. For each retinoid-binding protein, both the level of specific mRNA and of immunoreactive protein were measured, respectively, by RNase protection assay and by a specific RIA. Dramatic increases in CRABP and CRBP were seen, at both the mRNA and protein levels, during the RA-induced differentiation. CRBP induction differed from that of CRABP in several major ways. 1) Induction of CRBP occurred at lower concentrations of RA (10(-9) M) than did that of CRABP (10(-8)-10(-7) M). 2) CRBP induction was an early response (within 3 h) to RA treatment, whereas CRABP induction occurred at a later time (12-24 h). 3) Induction of CRABP mRNA by RA was blocked by the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide, whereas induction of CRBP mRNA was not. 4) Several differentiation inducers were tested for their effects on the expression of CRABP and CRBP in P19 cells. CRBP induction occurred with a wider spectrum of inducers than did that of CRABP. 5) In addition, the induction of CRABP and CRBP mRNAs by RA was examined in six different cell lines, including three EC lines. CRBP induction occurred in a wider spectrum of cell lines than did that of CRABP. The induction of CRABP in EC cells seems, in general, to correlate with their differentiation into neuron-like cells. Taken together, our results suggest that CRBP induction may be a direct response to RA and represent a general event in RA-induced cell differentiation, whereas CRABP induction may be an indirect response and represent a later event restricted to only certain differentiation pathways. CRBP may be an early response gene induced by RA.

Retinoic acid rapidly induces lung cellular retinol-binding protein mRNA levels in retinol deficient rats

Retinol deficiency resulted in decreased mRNA levels for cellular retinol-binding protein (CRBP) in the lungs and the testes. The level of lung CRBP mRNA increased 2.3-fold one hour after oral administration of retinoic acid to retinol deficient rats. In contrast, testicular CRBP mRNA level was not influenced. Our data indicate that retinoic acid regulates CRBP mRNA level in the whole animal and this rapid effect suggests a role for CRBP in the mechanism of vitamin A action at genomic level.

Cellular retinoic acid- and cellular retinol-binding proteins: complementary deoxyribonucleic acid cloning, chromosomal assignment, and tissue specific expression.

Both cellular retinoic acid-binding protein (CRABP) and cellular retinol-binding protein (CRBP) are widely distributed in mammalian tissues and display different patterns of tissue distribution. We have isolated cDNA clones for bovine CRABP and for human CRBP from a bovine adrenal gland cDNA library and from a human liver cDNA library, respectively, by probing with synthetic oligonucleotides. The primary structures of the two proteins inferred from the DNA sequences were identical to the previously reported amino acid sequences. The cDNA probes were used to obtain some information about the genes for CRABP and CRBP, including their chromosomal localization, and about the tissue specific expression of these two genes. Southern blot analyses under highly stringent conditions, of genomic DNA from both the bovine and the mouse, showed that for each retinoid-binding protein, specific DNA sequences are sufficiently conserved across species to allow cross-hybridization to occur. Under the same conditions, however, the DNA sequences for CRABP and CRBP within each species appear to be sufficiently different that cross-hybridization was not observed between the two cDNA probes. Using mouse-hamster somatic cell hybrids, it was demonstrated that these genes map to mouse chromosome 9 or 10. Northern blot analyses of RNA from six tissues from both the bovine and the mouse showed marked differences in the levels of the specific transcript for each binding protein among the different tissues, and in the tissue distribution of CRABP mRNA as compared to that of CRBP mRNA. In both species, CRBP mRNA was detected in more tissues than was CRABP mRNA. For both proteins, the relative tissue distribution of the mRNAs appeared to both resemble and to differ from the reported distribution of the binding proteins themselves. The factors that regulate the tissue specific expression of the genes for CRABP and CRBP remain to be determined.

Comparison of the tissue-specific expression and developmental regulation of two closely linked rodent genes encoding cytosolic retinol-binding proteins.

Cellular retinol-binding protein (CRBP) and cellular retinol-binding protein II (CRBP II) are two highly homologous cytoplasmic proteins that bind all-trans-retinol. We have recently demonstrated that the mouse genes encoding CRBP and CRBP II are closely linked on chromosome 9 and that both human genes are located on chromosome 3 (Demmer, L.A., Birkenmeier, E.H., Sweetser, D.A., Levin, M.S., Zollman, S., Sparkes, R.S., Mohandas, T., Lusis, A.J., and Gordon, J.I. (1987) J. Biol. Chem. 262, 2458-2467). We have now used RNA blot hybridization analysis to assess the degree to which these genes are coordinately expressed in fetal, suckling, weaning, and adult rat tissues. Both genes exhibit different developmental patterns of expression in liver, intestine, lung, kidney, testes, and placenta. In the intestine, CRBP mRNA was detected during the 16th day of gestation--prior to the development of a well-differentiated absorptive epithelium--and remained essentially unchanged throughout the peri- and postpartum periods. By contrast, the pattern of intestinal CRBP II mRNA accumulation closely parallels the times of first appearance, and subsequent proliferation, of the intestinal absorptive columnar epithelium, supporting the hypothesis that CRBP II is involved in the intestinal uptake or intracellular trafficking of this hydrophobic vitamin. In the fetal liver, both genes were expressed by gestational day 16. Whereas the concentration of hepatic CRBP mRNA increased markedly during the suckling and early weaning periods, CRBP II mRNA levels fell abruptly immediately after birth. These peripartum changes were not paralleled by remarkable alterations in the steady state levels of hepatic retinol. Marked changes in the expression of CRBP in the liver and of CRBP II in the intestine were also documented in pregnant and lactating female rats. These differences in CRBP/CRBP II gene expression strongly suggest that their proteins serve different physiological functions. The peripartum liver may provide a useful model for dissecting the relative roles played by these homologous proteins in retinoid metabolism as well as the factors which modulate activation and repression their genes.