Effect of retinoic acid on aquaporin 3 expression in keratinocytes

摘要

To explore the possible mechanism of the third-generation retinoic acid drugs (isotretinoin, acitretin, adapalene) in inducing skin and mucosa dryness and rhagades; specifically, mechanism by which these drugs influence keratinocyte cell culture models in vitro (HaCaT) and aquaporin channel (AQP3) protein expression was investigated. Isotretinoin, acitretin, and adapalene were applied to human keratinocyte HaCaT cells. Immunohistochemistry, reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, and western blotting were used to detect their effects on AQP3 expression in HaCaT cells at different concentrations (0.000, 0.001, 0.010, 0.060, and 0.100 mg/mL) or different at times (0, 6, 12, 24, and 48 h). At 0.010 mg/mL, maximal AQP3 expression was observed in HaCaT cells; this was significantly higher than the expressions at the other concentrations (P 0.05). Retinoic acid can increase AQP3 expression in HaCaT cells, with significant effects observed with 0.010 mg/mL isotretinoin treatment for 12 h. The side effects, namely skin and mucosa dryness caused by retinoic acid might be related to its effects on AQP3 expression.