title: Decreased retinyl ester concentrations in UV-induced murine squamous cell carcinomas.
abstract: Squamous cell carcinomas were induced in hairless mice by repeated irradiations with UVB (280-320 nm, total dose 30 J/cm2) plus UVA (320-400 nm, total dose 168 J/cm2). The irradiated animals and non-irradiated controls were fed on diets with or without vitamin A supplementation (20,000 IU/kg). At the appearance of tumours, 30 to 43 weeks after the last irradiation, the vitamin A (retinol plus retinyl ester) concentrations in the serum, liver, epidermis and tumours and the retinol esterifying activities in microsomes from epidermis and tumours were measured. The liver and epidermal vitamin A concentrations were 2-3 times higher in vitamin A supplemented than in unsupplemented animals, but did not differ between tumour-bearing animals and non-irradiated controls receiving identical diets. The vitamin A concentration in the tumours was significantly lower than in perilesional epidermis. The largest difference (p less than 0.001) between the tumour and epidermal values was observed in the vitamin A supplemented group. The low vitamin A content of the tumours was entirely due to a marked (2 to 6-fold) reduction in the retinyl ester fraction. In contrast, the retinol content of the tumours was increased to twice that of normal epidermis. The activity of the esterifying enzyme, acyl-CoA:retinol acyltransferase (EC 2.3.1.76), was unchanged. The reason for the reduced retinyl ester concentration thus remains unclear. Still, it is possible that a disturbed interconversion of retinol to retinyl esters plays a role in murine photo-carcinogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Berne
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Törmä
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Staberg
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mikkelsen
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vahlquist
mesh_terms: D000217:Acyltransferases / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D008099:Liver / Q000032:analysis; D051379:Mice; D008812:Mice, Hairless; D009381:Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D051142:Retinol O-Fatty-Acyltransferase; D012867:Skin / Q000201:enzymology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D014801:Vitamin A; D000217:Acyltransferases; D051142:Retinol O-Fatty-Acyltransferase