Germ cells are essential to sexual reproduction. Across the animal kingdom, extracellular signaling isoprenoids, such as retinoic acids (RAs) in vertebrates and juvenile hormones (JHs) in invertebrates, facilitate multiple processes in reproduction. Here we investigated the role of these potent signaling molecules in embryonic germ cell development, using JHs in Drosophila melanogaster as a model system. In contrast to their established endocrine roles during larval and adult germline development, we found that JH signaling acts locally during embryonic development. Using an in vivo biosensor, we observed active JH signaling first within and near primordial germ cells (PGCs) as they migrate to the developing gonad. Through in vivo and in vitro assays, we determined that JHs are both necessary and sufficient for PGC migration. Analysis into the mechanisms of this newly uncovered paracrine JH function revealed that PGC migration was compromised when JHs were decreased or increased, suggesting that specific titers or spatiotemporal JH dynamics are required for robust PGC colonization of the gonad. Compromised PGC migration can impair fertility and cause germ cell tumors in many species, including humans. In mammals, retinoids have many roles in development and reproduction. We found that like JHs in Drosophila, RA was sufficient to impact mouse PGC migration in vitro. Together, our study reveals a previously unanticipated role of isoprenoids as local effectors of pre-gonadal PGC development and suggests a broadly shared mechanism in PGC migration.

• Klíčová slova
• Hmgcr, cell movement, embryonic development, gametogenesis, germ cells, gonad, juvenile hormones, ovary, retinoids, testis,
• MeSH
• Drosophila melanogaster * MeSH
• Drosophila MeSH
• gonády MeSH
• juvenilní hormony * MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• myši MeSH
• pohyb buněk MeSH
• savci MeSH
• terpeny MeSH
• zárodečné buňky MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• myši MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural MeSH
• Názvy látek
• juvenilní hormony * MeSH
• terpeny MeSH

All-trans-retinoic acid (atRA) is a potent ligand that regulates gene expression and is used to treat several skin disorders. Hyaluronic acid (HA) was previously conjugated with atRA (HA-atRA) to obtain a novel amphiphilic compound. HA-atRA forms micelles that incorporate hydrophobic molecules and facilitate their transport through the skin. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of HA-atRA on gene expression in skin cells and to compare it with that of unbound atRA. Gene expression was investigated using microarrays and a luciferase system with a canonical atRA promoter. HA-atRA upregulated gene expression similarly to atRA. However, HA-atRA activated the expression of cholesterol metabolism genes, unlike atRA. Further investigation using HPLC and filipin III staining suggested that the treated cells induced cholesterol synthesis to replenish the cholesterol removed from the cells by HA-atRA. HA modified with oleate (HA-C18:1) removed cholesterol from the cells similarly to HA-atRA, suggesting that the cholesterol removal stemmed from the amphiphilic nature of the two derivatives. HA-atRA induces retinoid signaling. Thus, HA-atRA could be used to treat skin diseases, such as acne and psoriasis, where the combined action of atRA signaling and anti-inflammatory cholesterol removal may be potentially beneficial.

• Klíčová slova
• Delcore, HyRetin, amphiphilic hyaluronan, cholesterol, hyaluronic acid, nanocarrier, retinoic acid,
• MeSH
• cholesterol metabolismus   MeSH
• exprese genu MeSH
• kyselina hyaluronová farmakologie   MeSH
• retinoidy * farmakologie   MeSH
• tretinoin * farmakologie   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• cholesterol MeSH
• kyselina hyaluronová MeSH
• retinoidy * MeSH
• tretinoin * MeSH

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common autosomal-recessive disease in Caucasians caused by mutations in the CF transmembrane regulator (CFTR) gene. Patients are usually diagnosed in infancy and are burdened with extensive medical treatments throughout their lives. One of the first documented biochemical defects in CF, which predates the cloning of CFTR gene for almost three decades, is an imbalance in the levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). The principal hallmarks of this imbalance are increased levels of arachidonic acid and decreased levels of docosahexaenoic acids (DHA) in CF. This pro-inflammatory profile of PUFAs is an important component of sterile inflammation in CF, which is known to be detrimental, rather than protective for the patients. Despite decades of intensive research, the mechanistic basis of this phenomenon remains unclear. In this review we summarized the current knowledge on the biochemistry of PUFAs, with a focus on the metabolism of AA and DHA in CF. Finally, a synthetic retinoid called fenretinide (N-(4-hydroxy-phenyl) retinamide) was shown to be able to correct the pro-inflammatory imbalance of PUFAs in CF. Therefore, its pharmacological actions and clinical potential are briefly discussed as well.

• Klíčová slova
• CFTR, Cystic fibrosis, Fenretinide, Lipids, PUFAs,
• MeSH
• antiflogistika farmakologie   terapeutické užití   MeSH
• cystická fibróza farmakoterapie   metabolismus   MeSH
• esenciální mastné kyseliny metabolismus   MeSH
• fenretinid farmakologie   terapeutické užití   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• nenasycené mastné kyseliny metabolismus   MeSH
• zánět farmakoterapie   metabolismus   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH
• Názvy látek
• antiflogistika MeSH
• esenciální mastné kyseliny MeSH
• fenretinid MeSH
• nenasycené mastné kyseliny MeSH

The main objective of this study was to analyze changes in the antiproliferative effect of vitamin D3, in the form of calcitriol and calcidiol, via its combined application with all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) in osteosarcoma cell lines. The response to treatment with calcitriol and calcidiol alone was specific for each cell line. Nevertheless, we observed an enhanced effect of combined treatment with ATRA and calcitriol in the majority of the cell lines. Although the levels of respective nuclear receptors did not correlate with the sensitivity of cells to these drugs, vitamin D receptor (VDR) upregulation induced by ATRA was found in cell lines that were the most sensitive to the combined treatment. In addition, all these cell lines showed high endogenous levels of retinoic acid receptor α (RARα). Our study confirmed that the combination of calcitriol and ATRA can achieve enhanced antiproliferative effects in human osteosarcoma cell lines in vitro. Moreover, we provide the first evidence that ATRA is able to upregulate VDR expression in human osteosarcoma cells. According to our results, the endogenous levels of RARα and VDR could be used as a predictor of possible synergy between ATRA and calcitriol in osteosarcoma cells.

• Klíčová slova
• all-trans retinoic acid, calcidiol, calcitriol, osteosarcoma, retinoic acid receptor α, vitamin D receptor,
• MeSH
• alfa receptor kyseliny retinové metabolismus   MeSH
• kalcifediol aplikace a dávkování   MeSH
• kalcitriol aplikace a dávkování   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• nádorové buněčné linie MeSH
• osteosarkom farmakoterapie   metabolismus   MeSH
• protinádorové látky aplikace a dávkování   MeSH
• protokoly protinádorové kombinované chemoterapie MeSH
• receptory kalcitriolu metabolismus   MeSH
• screeningové testy protinádorových léčiv MeSH
• tretinoin aplikace a dávkování   MeSH
• vitaminy aplikace a dávkování   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• alfa receptor kyseliny retinové MeSH
• kalcifediol MeSH
• kalcitriol MeSH
• protinádorové látky MeSH
• receptory kalcitriolu MeSH
• tretinoin MeSH
• vitaminy MeSH

Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), also known as perisinusoidal cells, are pericytes found in the perisinusoidal space of the liver. HSCs are the major cell type involved in liver fibrosis, which is the formation of scar tissue in response to liver damage. When the liver is damaged, stellate cells can shift into an activated state, characterized by proliferation, contractility and chemotaxis. The activated HSCs secrete collagen scar tissue, which can lead to cirrhosis. Recent studies have shown that in vivo activation of HSCs by fibrogenic agents can eventually lead to senescence of these cells, which would contribute to reversal of fibrosis although it may also favor the insurgence of liver cancer. HSCs in their non-active form store huge amounts of retinoic acid derivatives in lipid droplets, which are progressively depleted upon cell activation in injured liver. Retinoic acid is a metabolite of vitamin A (retinol) that mediates the functions of vitamin A, generally required for growth and development. The precise function of retinoic acid and its alterations in HSCs has yet to be elucidated, and nonetheless in various cell types retinoic acid and its receptors (RAR and RXR) are known to act synergistically with peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-gamma) signaling through the activity of transcriptional heterodimers. Here, we review the recent advancements in the understanding of how retinoic acid signaling modulates the fibrogenic potential of HSCs and proposes a synergistic combined action with PPAR-gamma in the reversal of liver fibrosis.

• Klíčová slova
• Fibrogenesis, Hepatic stellate cells, Retinoic acid,
• MeSH
• jaterní cirhóza patofyziologie   MeSH
• jaterní hvězdicovité buňky fyziologie   MeSH
• keratolytika MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• PPAR gama metabolismus   MeSH
• protinádorové látky MeSH
• signální transdukce * MeSH
• tretinoin metabolismus   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH
• Názvy látek
• keratolytika MeSH
• PPAR gama MeSH
• protinádorové látky MeSH
• tretinoin MeSH