Effect of Retinyl Acetate on Sulfated Glycosaminoglycan Biosynthesis in Dermal and Epidermal Cells in Vitro

Abstract

The effects of retinyl acetate on the biosynthesis of sulfated giycosaminoglycans in dermal and epidermal cells isolated from newborn mice was investigated. Three compartments were analysed for [³⁵S]-glycosaminoglycans; the culture medium, the cellular matrix, and the cells. The individual levels of chondroitin 4-sulfate, dermatan sulfate and heparin and/or heparan sulfate in these compartments as a function of retinyl acetate was also analysed. The addition of retinyl acetate resulted in a dose dependent increase in ³⁵SO₄₆ incorporation in the cellular and matrix compartments of the dermis in vitro. At the optimum concentration of 1.8 × 10⁻⁶ M, this increase was 50%. The levels of ³⁵SO₄ incorporated into medium giycosaminoglycans were relatively constant. There were also changes in the levels of the individual sulfated giycosaminoglycans. The glycosaminoglycan profile was modified differently in each of the three compartments analysed. In the epidermal cells, retinyl acetate at an optimum concentration of 1.8 × 101 M resulted in a dose dependent increase in ³⁵SO₄ incorporation in the cellular, matrix and medium compartments. There was no apparent change in the glycosaminoglycan profile, with heparin and/or heparan sulfate being the major sulfated glycosaminoglycan.