ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Retinoids exert a wide range of effects on cell growth and development and have important effects on keratinocytes differentiation in vvc and in vitro. Besides the effects on epithelial differeotiation, modulation of cellular and amoral responses of lymphocytes, changes in natural killer and T-killer cell activities and riodulation of antigen presenting properties were shown by retionds. OBJECTIVE: We studied to investigate the immunologic role of etinoids. METHODS: With foreskin. the effects of 13-cis retinoic acid and etretinate on interferony induced HLA-DR and ICAM-1 expression of kratinocytes were!ev luated. RESULTS: 1. When keratinocytes were grown in low calcium media, priliferation was inhibited only with 8 x 10 M of 13-cis retinoic acid. 8 x 10 , 8 x 10 M of 13-cis retinoic acid and 8 x 10 , 8 x 10, 8 x 10 M of etretinate had no effect on keratinocytes roiferation. When cultured in 0.15 mM calcium media or 1.0 mM calcium media, 13-cis retino acid and etretinate had no effection keratinocytes proliferation. 2. Keratinocytes HLA-DR expression was decreased with 8 x 10 , 8 x 10 M of 13-cis retinoic acid in 0.15 mM carcium media and 8 x 10 , 8 x 10 M of 13-cis retinoic acid in 1.0 mM calcium media. Etretinate had no effect on keratinocytes HLA-DR expression. 3. Keratinocytes ICAM- 1 expression was increased with 8 x 10 M of 13-cis retinoic acid in low calcium. media. When cultured on 0.15 mM carcium media, ICAM-1 expression was increased with 8 x 10 M of 13-cis retinoic acid and tetinate. When cultured in 1.0 mM calcium media, ICAM-1 expression was increased with 8 x 10, 8 x 10 , 8 x 10 M of 13-cis retinoic acid and 8 x 10, 8 x 10 , 8 x 10 M of etretinate. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that retiniods have an immunomodulating effect as well as effects on epithelial differentiation. Clarification of the mechanism of increased expression of ICAM-1 and decreased expression of HLA-DR remains to the proved.