Inhibition of epidermal terminal differentiation and tumour promotion by retinoids. 1985

U Lichti, and S H Yuspa

Retinoids are physiological regulators of growth and differentiation for a number of epithelial tissues. In several of these, retinoids also act as pharmacological anticarcinogens. Retinoids are most effective as anticarcinogens in the post-initiation portion of carcinogenesis. In mouse skin, retinoids are inhibitors of phorbol ester-mediated tumour promotion and can cause regression of pre-existing benign tumours. Studies in vivo and in vitro have indicated that phorbol ester-mediated skin tumour promotion results from selective clonal expansion of initiated cells. We have proposed that the biological basis for selection resides in the induction of terminal differentiation in subpopulations of keratinocytes while other keratinocytes, including initiated cells, are stimulated to proliferate. Terminal differentiation is accelerated by phorbol esters through the induction of epidermal transglutaminase and consequent cornification. Retinoids inhibit terminal differentiation of keratinocytes. Retinoids also induce transglutaminase in epidermis, but they inhibit cornification. Recent results suggest a biochemical basis for this paradox. The phorbol ester-induced transglutaminase is primarily particulate but the retinoid-induced enzyme is cytosolic. The induced enzymes differ in kinetic parameters, thermal stability and in elution from ion-exchange columns. Induction of the retinoid enzyme is associated with suppression of the induction of transglutaminase by phorbol esters. The retinoid-induced epidermal transglutaminase could interfere with normal or promoter-induced differentiation by inappropriately cross-linking precursor proteins before their assembly at the cell periphery. This could explain one aspect of the inhibitory action of retinoids on tumour promotion.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008807 Mice, Inbred BALB C An inbred strain of mouse that is widely used in IMMUNOLOGY studies and cancer research. BALB C Mice, Inbred,BALB C Mouse, Inbred,Inbred BALB C Mice,Inbred BALB C Mouse,Mice, BALB C,Mouse, BALB C,Mouse, Inbred BALB C,BALB C Mice,BALB C Mouse
D011503 Transglutaminases Transglutaminases catalyze cross-linking of proteins at a GLUTAMINE in one chain with LYSINE in another chain. They include keratinocyte transglutaminase (TGM1 or TGK), tissue transglutaminase (TGM2 or TGC), plasma transglutaminase involved with coagulation (FACTOR XIII and FACTOR XIIIa), hair follicle transglutaminase, and prostate transglutaminase. Although structures differ, they share an active site (YGQCW) and strict CALCIUM dependence. Glutaminyl-Peptide Gamma-Glutamyltransferases,Protein-Glutamine gamma-Glutamyltransferases,Transglutaminase,Gamma-Glutamyltransferases, Glutaminyl-Peptide,Glutaminyl Peptide Gamma Glutamyltransferases,Protein Glutamine gamma Glutamyltransferases,gamma-Glutamyltransferases, Protein-Glutamine
D002454 Cell Differentiation Progressive restriction of the developmental potential and increasing specialization of function that leads to the formation of specialized cells, tissues, and organs. Differentiation, Cell,Cell Differentiations,Differentiations, Cell
D002471 Cell Transformation, Neoplastic Cell changes manifested by escape from control mechanisms, increased growth potential, alterations in the cell surface, karyotypic abnormalities, morphological and biochemical deviations from the norm, and other attributes conferring the ability to invade, metastasize, and kill. Neoplastic Transformation, Cell,Neoplastic Cell Transformation,Transformation, Neoplastic Cell,Tumorigenic Transformation,Cell Neoplastic Transformation,Cell Neoplastic Transformations,Cell Transformations, Neoplastic,Neoplastic Cell Transformations,Neoplastic Transformations, Cell,Transformation, Cell Neoplastic,Transformation, Tumorigenic,Transformations, Cell Neoplastic,Transformations, Neoplastic Cell,Transformations, Tumorigenic,Tumorigenic Transformations
D002478 Cells, Cultured Cells propagated in vitro in special media conducive to their growth. Cultured cells are used to study developmental, morphologic, metabolic, physiologic, and genetic processes, among others. Cultured Cells,Cell, Cultured,Cultured Cell
D004790 Enzyme Induction An increase in the rate of synthesis of an enzyme due to the presence of an inducer which acts to derepress the gene responsible for enzyme synthesis. Induction, Enzyme
D004817 Epidermis The external, nonvascular layer of the skin. It is made up, from within outward, of five layers of EPITHELIUM: (1) basal layer (stratum basale epidermidis); (2) spinous layer (stratum spinosum epidermidis); (3) granular layer (stratum granulosum epidermidis); (4) clear layer (stratum lucidum epidermidis); and (5) horny layer (stratum corneum epidermidis).
D006131 Growth Inhibitors Endogenous or exogenous substances which inhibit the normal growth of human and animal cells or micro-organisms, as distinguished from those affecting plant growth ( Cell Growth Inhibitor,Cell Growth Inhibitors,Growth Inhibitor,Growth Inhibitor, Cell,Growth Inhibitors, Cell,Inhibitor, Cell Growth,Inhibitor, Growth,Inhibitors, Cell Growth,Inhibitors, Growth
D000217 Acyltransferases Enzymes from the transferase class that catalyze the transfer of acyl groups from donor to acceptor, forming either esters or amides. (From Enzyme Nomenclature 1992) EC 2.3. Acyltransferase
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia

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