Retinol-binding protein explained

Retinol-binding proteins (RBP) are a family of proteins with diverse functions. They are carrier proteins that bind retinol. Assessment of retinol-binding protein is used to determine visceral protein mass in health-related nutritional studies.

Retinol and retinoic acid play crucial roles in the modulation of gene expression and overall development of an embryo. However, deficit or excess of either one of these substances can cause early embryo mortality or developmental malformations. Regulation of transport and metabolism of retinol necessary for a successful pregnancy is accomplished via RBP. Retinol-binding proteins have been identified within the uterus, embryo, and extraembryonic tissue of the bovine, ovine, and porcine, clearly indicating that RBP plays a role in proper retinol exposure to the embryo and successful transport at the maternal-fetal interface. Further research is necessary to determine the exact effects of poor RBP expression on pregnancy and threshold levels for said expression.

Genes

RBP in pregnancy

Retinol plays a crucial role in the growth and differentiation of various body tissues, and it has been previously characterized that embryos are extremely sensitive to alterations in retinol concentration that can lead to spontaneous abortion and malformations occurring during development.[1] [2] Within a mature animal, retinol is transported from the liver via the circulatory system while bound to RBP to the desired target tissue. RBP is also bound to a carrier protein, transthyretin.[3] The process by which RBP releases retinol for cellular availability is still unknown and not concisely determined.[4] [5] [6]

Sites of synthesis

Traditionally, RBP is synthesized within the liver with secretion being dependent upon retinol concentrations. However, the concentrations levels do not appear to have an effect upon transcription of RBP messenger RNA (mRNA) which remains constant.[7] [8] Literature reveals that the bovine endometrium has also been identified as a location of RBP synthesis, as well as, the conceptus and extraembryonic tissues of various livestock species.[9] [10] [11] [12]

Types

  1. Plasma retinol-binding protein, the retinol transport vehicle in serum.[13]
  2. CRBP I/II, cellular-binding proteins involved in transport of retinol and metabolites into retinyl esters for storage or into retinoic acid.[14]
  3. CRABPs, cellular retinoic acid–binding proteins capable of binding retinol and retinoic acid with high affinity.[15] [16] [17] It has also been characterized that CRABPs are involved in many aspects of the retinoic acid signaling pathway such as the regulation and availability of retinoic acid to nuclear receptors.[18]

Presence in livestock species during gestation

Bovine/OvineRBP, identical to that found in plasma has been identified in the placental tissues of both the ovine and the bovine, suggesting that RBP may be highly involved in retinol transport and metabolism during pregnancy. However, exact timing of expression had been yet to be identified. An antiserum specific for bovine conceptus RBP and immunohistochemistry has been utilized to identify the presence of RBP at different stages of early pregnancy. Strong immunostaining and hybridization were observed in the trophectoderm of tubular, but not spherical blastocysts at day 13. RBP mRNA was localized to epithelial cells of the chorion, allantois, and amnion at day 45 of pregnancy. Lastly, RBP mRNA was detected in the cotyledons, the fetal contribution to the placenta and the site of attachment to the uterine epithelium for fetal/maternal exchange. Expression of RBP in developing conceptuses, extraembryonic membranes, and at the fetal-maternal interface indicate that there may be some regulation of retinol transport and metabolism that occurs due to RBP by the extraembryonic membranes. Within the uterus of pregnant bovines, it has been found that RBP synthesis in the luminal and glandular epithelium is quite similar to that of a cyclic animal's; however upon reaching day 17 of the estrous cycle, levels of RBP remain constant and continue to gradually rise throughout gestation.[19] It has also been suggested that ovarian steroids may play a role in regulating uterine RBP expression.
PorcineAll three previously mentioned types of retinol-binding proteins (RBP, CRBP, CRABP) have been identified within the porcine placenta during pregnancy via immunohistochemistry. As previously mentioned, retinol and retinoic acid are modulators of gene expression and are necessary for the proper development and growth of a conceptus. Porcine exhibit a diffuse type placenta that has areolar-gland subunits which allows for transport of larger molecules between dam and fetus. RBP and CRBP have been identified in the endometrial glands and areolar trophoblasts, suggesting that RBP is crucial in transport of retinol from the gland to the trophectoderm of the conceptus. RBP expression has also been identified within the yolk sac, myometrium, oviduct, and numerous other fetal tissues.

See also

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Wolf G . Multiple functions of vitamin A . Physiological Reviews . 64 . 3 . 873–937 . July 1984 . 6377341 . 10.1152/physrev.1984.64.3.873 .
  2. Liu KH, Doré JJ, Roberts MP, Krishnan R, Hopkins FM, Godkin JD . Expression and cellular localization of retinol-binding protein messenger ribonucleic acid in bovine blastocysts and extraembryonic membranes . Biology of Reproduction . 49 . 2 . 393–400 . August 1993 . 8373966 . 10.1095/biolreprod49.2.393 . free .
  3. Hendriks HF, Brouwer A, Knook DL . The role of hepatic fat-storing (stellate) cells in retinoid metabolism . Hepatology . 7 . 6 . 1368–71 . 1987 . 3315935 . 10.1002/hep.1840070630 . 44339135 . free .
  4. Hodam JR, St Hilaire P, Creek KE . Comparison of the rate of uptake and biologic effects of retinol added to human keratinocytes either directly to the culture medium or bound to serum retinol-binding protein . The Journal of Investigative Dermatology . 97 . 2 . 298–304 . August 1991 . 2071940 . 10.1111/1523-1747.ep12480562 .
  5. MacDonald PN, Bok D, Ong DE . Localization of cellular retinol-binding protein and retinol-binding protein in cells comprising the blood-brain barrier of rat and human . Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America . 87 . 11 . 4265–9 . June 1990 . 2190219 . 54089 . 10.1073/pnas.87.11.4265 . 1990PNAS...87.4265M . free .
  6. van Bennekum AM, Blaner WS, Seifert-Bock I, Moukides M, Brouwer A, Hendriks HF . Retinol uptake from retinol-binding protein (RBP) by liver parenchymal cells in vitro does not specifically depend on its binding to RBP . Biochemistry . 32 . 7 . 1727–33 . February 1993 . 8439537 . 10.1021/bi00058a005 .
  7. Blaner WS, Hendriks HF, Brouwer A, de Leeuw AM, Knook DL, Goodman DS . Retinoids, retinoid-binding proteins, and retinyl palmitate hydrolase distributions in different types of rat liver cells . Journal of Lipid Research . 26 . 10 . 1241–51 . October 1985 . 10.1016/S0022-2275(20)34272-3 . 4067418 . free .
  8. Soprano DR, Soprano KJ, Goodman DS . Retinol-binding protein messenger RNA levels in the liver and in extrahepatic tissues of the rat . Journal of Lipid Research . 27 . 2 . 166–71 . February 1986 . 10.1016/S0022-2275(20)38843-X . 3754273 . free .
  9. Harney JP, Smith LC, Simmen RC, Fliss AE, Bazer FW . Retinol-binding protein: immunolocalization of protein and abundance of messenger ribonucleic acid in conceptus and maternal tissues during pregnancy in pigs . Biology of Reproduction . 50 . 5 . 1126–35 . May 1994 . 8025169 . 10.1095/biolreprod50.5.1126 . free .
  10. Liu KH, Godkin JD . Characterization and immunolocalization of bovine uterine retinol-binding protein . Biology of Reproduction . 47 . 6 . 1099–104 . December 1992 . 1493174 . 10.1095/biolreprod47.6.1099 . free .
  11. Liu KH, Gao KX, Baumbach GA, Godkin JD . Purification and immunolocalization of ovine placental retinol-binding protein . Biology of Reproduction . 46 . 1 . 23–9 . January 1992 . 1547313 . 10.1095/biolreprod46.1.23 . free .
  12. Thomas DG, James SL, Fudge A, Odgers C, Teubner J, Simmer K . Delivery of vitamin A from parenteral nutrition solutions in neonates . Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health . 27 . 3 . 180–3 . June 1991 . 1909535 . 10.1111/j.1440-1754.1991.tb00382.x . 9670196 .
  13. Soprano DR, Gyda M, Jiang H, Harnish DC, Ugen K, Satre M, Chen L, Soprano KJ, Kochhar DM . A sustained elevation in retinoic acid receptor-beta 2 mRNA and protein occurs during retinoic acid-induced fetal dysmorphogenesis . Mechanisms of Development . 45 . 3 . 243–53 . March 1994 . 8011556 . 10.1016/0925-4773(94)90011-6 . 46392586 .
  14. Johansson S, Dencker L, Dantzer V . Immunohistochemical localization of retinoid binding proteins at the materno-fetal interface of the porcine epitheliochorial placenta . Biology of Reproduction . 64 . 1 . 60–8 . January 2001 . 11133659 . 10.1095/biolreprod64.1.60 . free .
  15. Li E, Norris AW . Structure/function of cytoplasmic vitamin A-binding proteins . Annual Review of Nutrition . 16 . 205–34 . 1996 . 8839926 . 10.1146/annurev.nutr.16.1.205 .
  16. Napoli JL, Boerman MH, Chai X, Zhai Y, Fiorella PD . Enzymes and binding proteins affecting retinoic acid concentrations . The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology . 53 . 1–6 . 497–502 . June 1995 . 7626500 . 10.1016/0960-0760(95)00096-i . 10670925 .
  17. Napoli. J.L.. Retinoic acid biosynthesis and metabolism. The FASEB Journal. 1996. 10. 9. 993–1001. 10.1096/fasebj.10.9.8801182. free . 8801182. 26008872.
  18. Gustafson AL, Donovan M, Annerwall E, Dencker L, Eriksson U . Nuclear import of cellular retinoic acid-binding protein type I in mouse embryonic cells . Mechanisms of Development . 58 . 1–2 . 27–38 . August 1996 . 8887314 . 10.1016/s0925-4773(96)00554-0. 18772488 . free .
  19. MacKenzie SH, Roberts MP, Liu KH, Doré JJ, Godkin JD . Bovine endometrial retinol-binding protein secretion, messenger ribonucleic acid expression, and cellular localization during the estrous cycle and early pregnancy . Biology of Reproduction . 57 . 6 . 1445–50 . December 1997 . 9408253 . 10.1095/biolreprod57.6.1445 . free .

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