Biosynthesis and function of all-trans- and 9-cis-retinoic acid in parathyroid cells

We demonstrate that cultured human and bovine parathyroid cells incubated with all-trans-[11,12-H-3]-retinol convert this tracer into all-trans- and 9-cis-retinoic acid. By using RT-PCR, cellular retinol-binding protein type I (CRBP I), cellular retinoic acid binding protein I and II (CRABP I and II), retinoic acid receptors (RARs) alpha, beta and gamma, and 9-cis-retinoic acid receptor (RXR) alpha transcripts were detected in human parathyroid cDNA. CRBP I and CRABP I expression was confirmed by immunohistochemistry. Both 9-cis- and all-trans-RA were found to suppress parathyroid hormone (PTH) secretion from dispersed human adenomatous parathyroid cells, which was augmented by combined treatment with 1mM RA and 100 nM 1,25 (OH)(2)D-3. The present data establish parathyroid gland as a target for retinoids and as a site of synthesis of the hormonal forms of vitamin A (retinol), all-trans- and 9-cis-retinoic acid. (C) 1996 Academic Press.