Differential effects of 9-cis, 13-cis and all-trans retinoic acids on the neuronal differentiation of human neuroblastoma cells

A human neuroblastoma cell line IMR-32 was used as an in vitro model to examine three naturally occurring retinoic acid (RA) isomers, 9-cis (9c), 13-cis (13c) and all-trans (AT) RA, in mediating growth differentiation and neuronal differentiation. All RA isomers inhibited cellular proliferation, with 13c-RA being most effective. Cyclic AMP-responsive-element-binding-protein (CREB) was activated during RA treatment. AT-RA was a better differentiating agent in inducing the highest expression of the neurotrophic factor receptor TrkA. After prolonged RA treatment, the expression of RA receptors (RARs) was comparable for the three isomers, but retinoid X receptors (RXRs) were differentially regulated. These results imply that distinctive molecular pathways might be involved in the in vitro differentiation of neuroblastoma with different RA isomers.