Expression and Distribution Pattern of Retinoic Acid Receptors in the Nasal Mucosa

Jiwon Kwak; Tae Hoon Lee; Munsoo Han; Sang Hag Lee; Tae Hoon Kim

doi:10.18787/jr.2021.00389

Abstract

Background and Objectives

Retinoids are naturally occurring vitamin A derivatives that regulate cellular processes and metabolism. In particular, retinoids play a key role in cellular proliferation by binding to retinoic acid receptors (RAR)-alpha, beta, and gamma. Considering the functional role of nasal mucosa where active cell regeneration occurs, RAR may play a role in tissue remodeling of the human nasal mucosa.

Methods

In this study, we investigated the expression and distribution pattern of RAR using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), immunohistochemistry (IHC) and Western blot in normal ethmoid mucosa (NE), chronic rhinosinusitis (IE) and polyp (P).

Results

IE and P samples showed higher expression levels of RAR in RT-PCR and Western blot than NE samples. RAR reactivity was also observed in the NE group, which indicates that cell regeneration also occurs in normal condition. Through IHC, we found the localization of RAR. RAR-α was distributed in the epithelial cells, submucosal glands, and endothelial cells. RAR-β was located in the basal epithelium, while RAR-γ was present in goblet cells and submucosal glands. The staining intensity of RAR-α, β and γ was higher than that in the NE group. Especially in the P group, RARs were abundantly distributed in the stalks of polyps.

Conclusion

The stalk region contains a lot of collagen and fibroblasts to support polyp formation, and the greater amount of RAR in the stalk suggested that RARs may be associated with angiogenesis and cell proliferation. Accordingly, elevated RAR levels in chronic rhinosinusitis could indicate that RARs play a critical role in cell regeneration, angiogenesis and immunomodulation under inflammatory conditions in the human nasal mucosa.

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INTRODUCTION

Retinoids are naturally occurring vitamin A derivatives that regulate cellular processes and metabolism [1]. In cell differentiation, specific retinoids are involved in the control of the cell cycle, cell growth and response to cell impairment [2]. More specifically, retinoic acids are involved in epithelial proliferation and differentiation, angiogenesis, and mucus secretion [3,4]. Particularly, retinoids have essential, pleiotropic effects on cellular proliferation and differentiation, and they exert their cellular effects by binding to the retinoic acid receptors (RAR)-α, -β, and -γ [5].

In various normal human mucosa surfaces, each retinoid receptor is distributed in different sites of organs. RAR-α is commonly located in the epithelial cells of buccal, gingival, palate, and prostate mucosae [6]. RAR-β is usually found in the basal epithelial layer of prostate mucosa, while RAR-γ lines the granular layer of the gingival epithelium [7]. A common characteristic of these sites is their active regeneration under normal conditions.

The human nasal mucosa is the first barrier against foreign substances and a conditioner for the inhaled air. The nasal mucosa is separated by a basement membrane into epithelium and lamina propria. A pseudostratified columnar epithelium is composed of four cell types, including goblet cells and basal cells, which are involved in the preservation of the nasal mucosa [8,9]. In numerous nasal airway diseases, such as rhinitis and acute and chronic sinusitis, the pseudostratified epithelium protects against damage, and it regenerates to restore its previous function [9]. In the chronic inflammatory condition of the nasal cavity, the dynamic process of tissue remodelling results in histological changes in the paranasal sinus mucosa. This process includes fibroblast proliferation, angiogenesis, and degradation and formation of subepithelial tissues, which result in fibrosis [10].

Here, we hypothesized that RARs play a role in mucosal regeneration and tissue remodelling of the human nasal mucosa, and accordingly, investigated their expression and distribution pattern in normal ethmoid sinus mucosa (NE), inflammatory ethmoid sinus mucosa (IE), and nasal polyp (P) using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), immunohistochemistry (IHC), and western blot analysis.

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METHODS

Sample preparation

Samples of NE (n=15) were obtained from the ethmoid sinuses of patients with blowout fracture during endoscopic reduction surgery. Participants with no history of nasal infections, allergic rhinitis, and previous medical treatment were selected. Patients with a smoking history were excluded, as it may have an intranasal effect. For the control group, normal-appearing sinus mucosa with no traumatic injury was extracted. IE samples (n=15) were obtained from 15 patients who underwent endoscopic sinus surgery for chronic sinusitis with P. A history of asthma, nasal allergy, and aspirin sensitivity was an exclusion criterion for the experimental group. None of these patients had ongoing drug treatment. Before sample extraction, all patients signed an informed consent form approved by the Institutional Review Boards of Korea University Anam Hospital (2018AN0061).

Tissue samples (15 NE and 15 IE) were cut into two parts; one part was used for RNA isolation, while the other was used for protein extraction. The tissue samples for RNA isolation were stored at -80°C in liquid nitrogen until RNA extraction. The tissue samples for protein extraction were fixed overnight with 4% paraformaldehyde in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS, pH 7.4) for IHC. Then, these were dehydrated in a graded series of ethanol to xylene and embedded in paraffin wax.

Total RNA isolation, RT-PCR, and semiquantitative RT-PCR

After total RNA (1 µg) from each sample was isolated, reverse transcription was done in 20 µL of a reaction mixture containing 2.5 U of Molony murine leukemia virus reverse transcriptase (RT; Gibco BRL, Grand Island, NY, USA). The 50 pmol of random hexanucleotides were at 42°C for 60 min. The amplified transcripts of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) were used as an internal control to determine the quality and quantity of RNA. A negative control was set up by omitting the RT enzyme from the complementary DNA (cDNA) synthesis for each specimen. Table 1 shows the primer sequences used in this analysis. In 2% agarose gels stained with ethidium bromide, each amplified PCR products were resolved, and photographed with ultraviolet light. The identity of PCR products was confirmed by comparing their corresponding mRNA sequences with the gene sequences deposited in the National Center for Biotechnology Information database.

Table 1.

Sequences of primers used for semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction

RAR-α	S: 5'-ATGGCCAGCAACAGCAGCTCCTGCCCGA-3'
	AS: 5'-CAGCCCCGTCTCCGCATCAT-3'
RAR-β	S: 5'-TCGGGGCTGGGAAAAAGACC-3'
	AS: 5'-GCTAGGACTGTGCTCTGCTG-3'
RAR-γ	S: 5'-CAGGGGACTCTCACACCGCA-3'
	AS: 5'-GCAGATGAGGCAGATGGCGC-3'
GAPDH	S: 5'-ATCTTCCAGGAGCGAGATCC-3'
	AS: 5'-ACCACTGACACGTTGGCAGT-3'

RAR, retinoic acid receptors; GAPDH, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase

Thereafter, a semiquantitative PCR was performed to assess the relative expression of RAR-α, -β, and -γ mRNA in NE, IE, and P. The optimal number of PCR cycles for each cDNA samples was determined by plotting the PCR product yield of different cycles on a semi-logarithmic graph; the cycle number that represented the exponential amplification was selected for final amplification. The PCR products were quantified by analysing the bands of the samples via densitometry. The ratio of cDNA and its corresponding GAPDH cDNA was calculated. Data are presented as mean±standard deviation (SD).

To evaluate the statistical significance of differences between the groups, Mann-Whitney U test was used, and the level of statistical significance was set at p<0.05.

Immunohistochemical and western blot analyses

Immunohistochemical staining was performed with a peroxidase-labelled streptavidin-biotin assay to evaluate the expression and distribution of RAR-α, -β, and -γ in NE, IE, and P. Briefly, tissue sections were deparaffinized, rehydrated, using 3% hydrogen peroxidase in methanol for 15 min to quench the endogenous peroxidase activity. After washing in 10 mM PBS (pH 7.4), the sections were incubated with 1:100 dilutions of rabbit anti-RAR-α, -β, and -γ polyclonal antibodies (Santa Cruz Biotechnology, CA, USA) overnight at room temperature. The color was developed using 3, 3'-diaminobenzidine.

For western blotting, the total protein was separated on 12% sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gels and transferred onto immobilon (Millipore, Bedford, MA, USA). Then with Tris-buffered saline containing 1% skim milk, the blots were blocked, for 1 h, then incubated with appropriate antibodies in Tris-buffered saline overnight. This process was done at room temperature. Using an ECL detection kit (Amersham Bioscience, Piscataway, NJ, USA), antibody reactions were detected, followed by the detection of chemiluminescence with an x-ray film. As an internal control, analysis of β-actin expression was performed in parallel blots using β-actin antibodies (Sigma, St. Louis, MO, USA). To quantify the intensity of the detected bands, the scion image Beta 4.0.2 (Scion Corporation, Frederick, MD, USA) was used. The relative signal intensity of each protein was obtained by dividing the intensity of each protein by the signal of β-actin. The statistical significance of their differences was evaluated using Mann-Whitney U test, and the level of statistical significance was set at p<0.05.

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RESULTS

RAR mRNA expression analysis in NE, IE, and P samples via RT-PCR

Using semiquantitative RT-PCR analysis, the mRNA expression of RAR-α, -β, and -γ and GAPDH was detected in the clinical NE, IE, and P samples. As a positive control, all samples were analysed for GAPDH and showed an expected size of 502 bp. Fig. 1 shows the result of the semiquantitative RT-PCR after normalization with β-actin expression, revealing the expression of RAR-α, -β, and -γ mRNAs. As shown in Fig. 1A, RAR-α, -β, and -γ were all expressed in NE, IE, and P; the expression of RAR-α, -β, and -γ mRNAs was detected in all samples examined corresponding to each expected size. Nevertheless, the relative abundance of RAR-α, -β, and -γ was significantly higher in the IE and P group than in the NE group (Fig. 1B).

Fig. 1.

Semiquantitative RT-PCR of NE, IE and P samples. A: Semiquantitative RT-PCR analysis of RAR mRNA levels in normal nasal mucosa and nasal mucosa with chronic sinusitis and polyps. B: Bands were quantified via densitometric scanning, and the expression of each gene was calculated as relative to that of the internal control GAPDH. The bar indicates mean±standard deviation. ^*p<0.05. RT-PCR, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction; RAR, retinoic acid receptors; GAPDH, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase; NE, normal ethmoid sinus mucosa; IE, inflammatory ethmoid sinus mucosa; P, nasal polyp.

Immunohistochemical localization and western blotting of RARs in NE, IE, and P samples

The tissues were subjected to IHC staining using specific antibodies against RAR-α, -β, and -γ. In the NE group, RAR-α was localized in epithelial cells, submucosal glands, and endothelial cells (Fig. 2A). In the IE and P groups, the detected localization site was the same as that in the NE group, while the staining intensity was higher than that in the NE group. Specifically, in the P group, the staining of endothelial cells was more positively distributed in the stalk area, which has more vessels, than in the body. RAR-β immunoreactivity was detected on the basal layer of the epithelium in the NE group, while more intense staining was detected in the IE and P groups (Fig. 2B). In the IE and P groups, RAR-β was also distributed in the endothelial cells. The expression pattern of RAR-γ was the same in all samples, and it was detected in goblet cells and submucosal glands. Similar to other receptors, its immunoreactivity was more intense in the IE and P groups (Fig. 2C). The P samples showed abundant RAR-α and -β staining in the endothelial cells, particularly in the stalk area.

Fig. 2.

Immunohistochemical localization of RAR-α in normal mucosa, inflammatory ethmoid mucosa, and nasal polyp and its stalk. A: RAR expression was observed in epithelial cells (arrowheads) and submucosal glands (arrows) (×100). B: Expression pattern of RAR-β based on immunohistochemical analysis as shown in (A) (×100) (epithelial cells [arrowheads] and endothelial cells [arrows]). C: RAR-γ localization based on immunohistochemical analysis (×400). RAR expression in epithelial cells (arrowheads) and submucosal glands (arrows). RAR, retinoic acid receptors.

Next, we performed western blotting to analyse RAR-α, -β, and -γ protein expression in the NE, IE, and P samples. The expression levels of RAR-α, -β, and -γ in all samples were significantly higher in the IE and P samples than in the NE sample (Fig. 3) (p<0.05).

Fig. 3.

Western blot of NE, IE and P samples. A: Western blot analysis of RAR-α, -β, and -γ in normal mucosa, inflammatory nasal mucosa, and nasal polyp. B: Bands were quantified via densitometric scanning, and the expression of each gene was calculated as relative to that of the internal control β-actin. The bar indicates mean±standard deviation. ^*p<0.05. RAR, retinoic acid receptors; NE, normal ethmoid sinus mucosa; IE, inflammatory ethmoid sinus mucosa; P, nasal polyp.

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DISCUSSION

To gain an understanding of the role of RARs on NE, IE, and P, the expression and distribution pattern of RARs were determined. RT-PCR and western blot analysis were used to determine the expression levels of RARs in each group, and IHC was performed to investigate their distribution pattern. The RARs located in the nasal mucosa were more intensely expressed in chronic rhinosinusitis, which is an inflammatory condition of the nasal cavity. This finding was verified at both mRNA and protein levels using RT-PCR and western blotting, respectively. The results of immunohistochemical staining revealed that RAR-α was distributed in the epithelial cells, submucosal glands, and endothelial cells. RAR-β was located in the basal epithelium, while RAR-γ was present in the goblet cells and submucosal glands. All immunohistochemical signals of RAR-α, -β, and -γ were stronger in the IE and P samples than in the NE sample. Taken together, these data suggest that RARs are constitutively expressed in NE and are intensely immunoreactive in IE. There are few studies about the relationship between each RAR subtype and the nasal mucosa. Although it is well-known that active cell renewal and division occur in the nasal mucosa, this study is the first to explore the role of RARs in the nasal mucosa.

As the nasal mucosa is the first barrier in the respiratory tract, the sinus mucosa is subjected to frequent cell damage and is characterized by newly regenerated tissues, which are peeled off in inflammatory conditions [11]. According to a study in a rabbit model, topical retinoic acid gels help in the regeneration of the sinus mucosa, which suggests that topical retinoic acids can promote sinus wound healing [12]. A normal sinus mucosa is considered to be an active site of cell cycling, and retinoic acid activity can be detected in normal conditions. Consistently, the expression of RARs confirmed via RT-PCR and western blotting was also observed in NE, where cell regeneration occurs.

In general, retinoic acid is metabolized in the small intestine and exists in high concentrations in organs such as the eye. At high levels, it plays a key role in mucosal immunity and immune tolerance, while at basal levels, it is involved in cell survival and immune cell activation [13]. Retinoic acid can also suppress the growth and angiogenesis of tumours and prevent their metastasis [14]. Based on its biological mechanism, some studies found that retinoic acid can be used for the treatment of several diseases. Indeed, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved retinoic acid as a treatment for lymphoma and leukaemia. Other studies also stated that retinoic acid is effective for the treatment of malignant diseases, such as prostate cancer, breast cancer, melanoma, and hepatoma [7-14]. These findings suggest that retinoic acid controls cell proliferation and prevents tumour progression, which is in contrast to our hypothesis that retinoic acid promotes cell generation and proliferation. Other studies focused on the up-regulated activity of retinoic acid with its ligand in inflammatory conditions, such as in the synovial membrane with osteoarthritis (OA) or rheumatoid arthritis (RA) [15]. In one study, RAR expression was found to be increased in the synovial membranes of patients with OA or RA. The RARs expressed in an inflammatory condition evoked cartilage destruction and up-regulate inflammatory cytokines and matrix metalloproteinases. Accordingly, the elevated RAR levels in chronic rhinosinusitis could indicate that RARs play a critical role in immunomodulation under inflammatory conditions.

In P, angiogenesis is an important process in polyp formation [16]. It has been demonstrated that angiogenic chemokines such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), angiopoietin 1 and -2 (Ang-1, Ang-2), and stromal cell-derived factor-1α, β (SDF-1α, SDF-1β) are more likely to be expressed in polyposis mucosa [17]. Likewise, anti-angiogenic agents, such as bevacizumab that inhibit VEGF, are considered to be a future treatment for polyps. VEGF is important for angiogenesis in the polyp stalk; hence, it is a critical area in polyp formation [18]. Moreover, the polyp stalk has a greater amount of collagen and fibroblasts, which supports its role in polyp formation. This study shows that RARs are abundantly distributed in the stalk region of polyps, suggesting that elevated levels of RARs may be associated with angiogenesis and cell proliferation.

Nevertheless, this study has some limitations. Since the results only showed the expression levels of the RARs and not retinoic acid itself, it cannot be concluded that retinoic acid is also activated in the nasal mucosa. Further studies are needed to confirm the direct activity of retinoic acid in a NE and in the mucosa of a patient with chronic sinusitis. Moreover, this study only showed the pattern of RAR expression and distribution, but the causal mechanisms were not revealed. As mentioned above, RAR may be involved in cell regeneration or aberrant cell proliferation regarding cancer cell metastasis. Furthermore, it also can be associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) which plays a role in inflammation and tissue remodeling [19]. To elaborate, additional studies such as wound healing assays should be conducted in the future to confirm that whether RARs play a role in cell proliferation. Studies about biomarkers of EMT like vimentin, E-cadherin and N-cadherin could be helpful to clarify the association between RAR and EMT. Also the aberrant RAR phosphorylation itself could induce the deregulated expression of RAR target gene resulting in elevation of cancer risk. Thus such molecular-level further studies will help us understand the role of RAR in the nasal cavity.

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Notes

Availability of Data and Material

All data generated or analyzed during the study are included in this published article.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors have no potential conflicts of interest to disclose.

Author Contributions

Conceptualization: Tae Hoon Kim. Data curation: Jiwon Kwak, Tae Hoon Lee. Formal analysis: Tae Hoon Kim. Funding acquisition: Tae Hoon Kim. Investigation: Jiwon Kwak. Methodology: Tae Hoon Kim. Project administration: Tae Hoon Kim. Resources: Jiwon Kwak. Software: Jiwon Kwak. Supervision: Tae Hoon Lee, Munsoo Han, Sang Hag Lee. Validation: Jiwon Kwak. Visualization: Jiwon Kwak. Writing—original draft: Jiwon Kwak. Writing—review & editing: Jiwon Kwak, Tae Hoon Kim.

Funding Statement

This research was supported by the Basic Science Research Program, National Research Foundation of Korea, funded by the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Science, ICT & Future Planning (2017 R1A2B2003575, NRF-2020R1A2C1006398), the Ministry of Science and ICT (2020R1C1C1012288), Korea, under the ICT Creative Consilience program (IITP-2021-001819) supervised by the IITP (Institute for Information & Communications Technology Planning & Evaluation), the Korea Health Technology R&D Project (HI17C0387), Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI), and the Ministry of Health & Welfare. This research was also supported by a Korea University grant and a grant from Korea University Medical Center and Korea University Anam Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.

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