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American Journal of Pathology, Vol 142, 1813-1822, Copyright © 1993 by American Society for Investigative Pathology

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All-trans retinoic acid and extracellular Ca2+ differentially influence extracellular matrix production by human skin in organ culture

J Varani, BK Larson, P Perone, DR Inman, SE Fligiel and JJ Voorhees
Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor 48109.

Two-mm full-thickness punch biopsies of human skin were placed in organ culture in a serum-free, growth factor-free basal medium. Under conditions of low extracellular Ca2+ (0.15 mmol/L), the tissue quickly degenerated. However, degeneration was prevented when the extracellular Ca2+ concentration was increased to 1.4 mmol/L. The tissue remained histologically normal in appearance and biochemically active for up to 12 days. The addition of 3 mumol/L all-trans retinoic acid (RA) to the low-Ca2+ culture medium also prevented tissue degeneration. However, in contrast to what was seen in the presence of 1.4 mmol/L Ca2+, epidermal differentiation did not occur normally in the presence of RA. Rather, the upper layers of the epidermis routinely separated from the underlying basal cells. Fibronectin production by the organ cultured skin was examined. Biosynthetic labeling/immunoprecipitation studies demonstrated that incubation of the tissue in basal medium containing 1.4 mmol/L Ca2+ resulted in a high level of fibronectin production relative to the amount produced in basal medium containing 0.15 mmol/L Ca2+. In contrast, the addition of 3 mumol/L RA to the low Ca2+ basal medium did not stimulate fibronectin production. Similar results were observed in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays where the addition of Ca2+ to a final concentration of 1.4 mmol/L stimulated fibronectin and thrombospondin production whereas RA (3 mumol/L) did not. Although RA by itself failed to stimulate extracellular matrix production, the addition of 3 mumol/L RA to basal medium containing 1.4 mmol/L Ca2+ led to a further increase in fibronectin production over that seen in the presence of 1.4 mmol/L Ca2+ alone. Taken together, these data indicate that although either 1.4 mmol/L Ca2+ or 3 mumol/L RA facilitates survival of organ-cultured skin in basal medium, they have very different effects on extracellular matrix production. This supports the view, based on histological appearance, that the two treatments work through different mechanisms. The data further support the suggestion that the two treatments may have additive or even synergistic effects.