Retinoic acid modulates the asialoglycoprotein receptor expression in cultured fetal rat hepatocytes.
The influence of retinoic acid on the expression of a typical marker of hepatocyte differentiation, i.e. the asialoglycoprotein receptor, has been studied. Cultured hepatocytes, isolated from adult rats, a model of quiescent, mature cells and from 20-day-old fetuses, a model of proliferating and less differentiated cells, were used. The asialoglycoprotein receptor expression appears to be affected by retinoic acid during prenatal life; both mRNA level and protein amount increased in fetal hepatocytes, but no modification has been found in adult cells, suggesting a regulative effect of retinoic acid during prenatal life, acting at transcriptional and/or translational level. Surprisingly, the receptor binding activity of adult hepatocytes is decreased after retinoic acid treatment, indicating a possible further modulation by this molecule on receptor activity at the post-translational level.
Falasca
L
L
Department of Cellular and Developmental Biology, University 'La Sapienza', Rome, Italy. falasca_laura@hotmail.com
Felici
A
A
Massimi
M
M
Dini
L
L
Conti Devirgiliis
L
L
D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D037263:Asialoglycoprotein Receptor; D001212:Asialoglycoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002478:Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D037263:Asialoglycoprotein Receptor; D001212:Asialoglycoproteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D014212:Tretinoin