title: Bioassay of retinoids using cultured human conjunctival keratinocytes.
abstract: The biological action of retinoids has been assayed using the differentiated properties of cultured human conjunctival keratinocytes. The effects measured were the suppression of envelope cross-linking and the promotion of synthesis of a keratin of molecular weight 40,000. Among the retinoids tested, the most powerful was the arotinoid Ro 13-6298, which reduced envelope formation detectably at 10(-11) M and by 90% at a concentration of 2 X 10(-10) M. The arotinoid was about 15 times more potent than trans-retinoic acid. The order of effectiveness of the retinoids in suppressing envelope cross-linking was the same as the order of effectiveness in promoting the synthesis of the 40-kd keratin.
mesh_terms: D001681:Biological Assay; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D004848:Epithelium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007633:Keratins / Q000378:metabolism*; D012176:Retinoids / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D012176:Retinoids; D007633:Keratins