Determination of the cellular retinoic-acid-binding protein in dysplastic epithelia of the cervix uteri, differentiated into apo and holo forms.
OBJECTIVE
The appearance of the cervical mucosa is regulated by different factors including retinoic acid. Hormone-dependent alteration of the cervix uteri mucosa is accompanied by a decrease or increase of cytoplasmatic retinoic-acid-binding protein (CRABP). To elucidate whether this hormone-dependent alteration of CRABP is preserved in the case of neoplasms of the cervix uteri, we measured the level of total and apo-CRABP in normal and neoplastically transformed cervical cells.


METHODS
In a prospective pilot study, standardised biopsies of normal epithelium and cervical intra-epithelial neoplasm grade 3 (CIN III) were taken from 24 patients. A newly developed method was used to determine the intra-epithelial level of apo- and total CRABP.


RESULTS
The concentration of total CRABP in normal squamous epithelium compared with that in intra-epithelial neoplasm grade 3 is very significantly lower in the CIN III areas (normal: 3.66 +/- 1.46 pmol/ mg wet weight +/- SD; CIN III 1.43 +/- 0.59 pmol/mg P < 0.01). In addition CRABP in the apo form is lower in normal than in neoplastic epithelium (Wilcoxon test for paired non-parametric values: P < 0.05; mean for all patients: normal: 1.65 + 0.82 pmol/mg; CIN III: 1.14 +/- 0.23 pmol/mg).


CONCLUSIONS
From our results we conclude that, in neoplastically transformed cells, the hormone-dependent CRABP cycle is interrupted. Whether this has consequences for the further development of the neoplastic cells has to be elucidated.
Volz-Köster
S
S
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Klinikum Mannheim, Faculty of Clinical Medicine of the University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany. Joachim.Volz@gyn.ma.uni-heidelberg.de
Volz
J
J
Kiefer
A
A
Biesalski
H K
HK
D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000737:chemistry*; D004848:Epithelium / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000737:chemistry*; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry*
D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid; C082927:retinoic acid binding protein I, cellular; C082928:retinoic acid binding protein II, cellular