Progress 10/01/06 to 09/30/11

Outputs OUTPUTS: The overall focus of this work is the study of the fat-soluble vitamins A and D. Ongoing work in three project areas is described below. Project 1. Both nutritional and genetic approaches are being used to determine how vitamin A functions in developing embryos, neonates and adults. Our laboratory has developed animal models to study vitamin A function in both early and late embryonic processes, as well as during postnatal life. We have shown that vitamin A is required for the initiation of meiosis in both the female and male gonad. Additionally, we identified several retinoic acid responsive genes that are expressed in the nervous system of developing embryos and in the adult brain. One of these, neuron navigator 2 (Nav2 or retinoic acid-induced in neuroblastoma, RAINB1), plays an essential role in neurite outgrowth, and in the development of the cranial nerves, eye, and brain. Project 2. Cellular and in vivo approaches are being used to address how the 4-HPR analog, 4-hydroxybenzylretinone (4-HBR), exerts its antitumor effects. In collaboration with our colleagues at the OSU, we have shown that the carbon-linked 4-HPR analog, 4-hydroxybenzylretinone (4-HBR), does not need to be hydrolyzed back to atRA to function in culture or in vivo. Mechanistic microarray studies are underway to determine how these compounds work in cultured breast cancer cells and mammary tumors. Project 3. Additional studies in the lab are directed at developing improved vitamin analogs for the treatment of acne and other disease states. Using the Rhino mouse as a model, we have identified a unique subset of vitamin D analogs that induce comedolysis. Studies are underway to determine how vitamin D compounds act to produce these effects. PARTICIPANTS: Jamie Ahrens (Senior research specialist), Elizabeth McNeill (Research associate), Danielle Knutsion (Research associate), Allyson Anding (Research assistant), Melissa Rohrer (Research associate), Mark Marzinke (Research assistant), Nirca Nieves (Research associate), Jim James (Associate research specialist), Mariana Bormann (Associate research specialist) TARGET AUDIENCES: Not relevant to this project. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.

Impacts The reproductive efficiency and health of animals, including humans, is clearly influenced by nutritional status. Rather than striving only to prevent overt nutrient deficiency, we need to begin to develop an understanding of "optimal" levels of a given nutrient to promote health. A detailed understanding of the physiological and molecular processes for which vitamins are needed is essential not only for optimizing human health, but also for determining how vitamin derivatives might be used in the treatment of human disease. For example, vitamin A compounds have shown promise in the prevention and treatment of cancer, as well as in the treatment of acne. However, the toxicity of many retinoids limits their use. Similar potential exists for the use of vitamin D analogs in a number of diseases, but the side effect, hypercalcemia, has been a major limitation to the advancement of these efforts. Thus, studies of new vitamin A analogs and non-calcemic vitamin D analogs may offer new approaches to the treatment of several disease states, including acne and cancer. Numerous patents that have issued or have been filed through the Wisconsin Alumini Research Foundation have arisen from these studies.

Publications

Progress 01/01/09 to 12/31/09

Outputs OUTPUTS: The overall focus of this work is the study of the fat-soluble vitamins A and D. Ongoing work in three project areas is described below. Project 1. Both nutritional and genetic approaches are being used to determine how and when vitamin A is needed for developing embryos, neonates and adults. Our laboratory has developed methods that enable the study of vitamin A function in both early and late embryonic processes, and more recently during postnatal life. When limiting amounts of atRA are provided after embryonic day (E) 10.5 in the rat, a highly reproducible and penetrant state of late fetal vitamin A-deficiency (VAD) is produced in the organs of developing fetuses. Using this method, we have recently shown that vitamin A is required for the initiation of meiosis in the female gonad. In addition, we have published a detailed characterization of the molecular events that are perturbed in the developing eye when insufficient vitamin A is present. We are also studying the function of several novel atRA responsive genes, and have shown that one of these genes (RAINB1 also known as Nav2) plays an essential role in neurite outgrowth, and in the development of the cranial nerves, eye, and brain. Project 2. Cellular and in vivo approaches are being used to address how the 4-HPR analog, 4-hydroxybenzylretinone (4-HBR), exerts its antitumor effects. In collaboration with our colleagues at the OSU, we have shown that the carbon-linked 4-HPR analog, 4-hydroxybenzylretinone (4-HBR), does not need to be hydrolyzed back to atRA to function in culture or in vivo. Further, 4-HBR is less toxic than 4-HPR, and appears to act by inducing ER stress-mediated responses. Work to further elucidate the cellular pathways that are altered by 4-HBR is underway, as are studies of its effects in developing embryos. Project 3. Additional studies in the lab are directed at developing improved vitamin analogs for the treatment of acne. Using the Rhino mouse as a model, the ability of compounds to produce a reduction in comedone size is being studied. Whereas all vitamin D analogs appear to induce thickening of the epidermis, we have identified a unique subset of analogs that also induce comedolysis. Studies are underway to determine how vitamin D compounds act to produce these effects. PARTICIPANTS: Angela See, Postdoctoral fellow; current employment Nimblegen; Hui Li, Postdoctoral fellow; Melissa Rohrer, Posdotoral fellow; Elizabeth McNeill, completed PhD; Nirca Nieves, completed PhD; Allyson Anding, PhD training ongoing; Mark Marzinke, PhD training ongoing TARGET AUDIENCES: Not relevant to this project. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.

Impacts The reproductive efficiency and health of animals, including humans, is clearly influenced by nutritional status. Rather than striving only to prevent overt nutrient deficiency, we need to begin to develop an understanding of "optimal" levels of a given nutrient to promote health. A detailed understanding of the physiological and molecular processes for which vitamins are needed is essential not only for optimizing human health, but also for determining how vitamin derivatives might be used in the treatment of human disease. For example, vitamin A compounds have shown promise in the prevention and treatment of cancer, as well as in the treatment of acne. However, the toxicity of many retinoids limits their use. Similar potential exists for the use of vitamin D analogs in a number of diseases, but the side effect, hypercalcemia, has been a major limitation to the advancement of these efforts. Thus studies of new vitamin A analogs and non-calcemic vitamin D analogs may offer new approaches to the treatment of several disease states, including acne and cancer. Numerous patents that have issued or have been filed through the Wisconsin Alumini Research Foundation have arisen from these studies.

Publications

Progress 01/01/08 to 12/31/08

Outputs OUTPUTS: The overall focus of this work is the study of the fat-soluble vitamins A and D. Ongoing work in three project areas are described below. Project 1. Both nutritional and genetic approaches are being used to determine how and when vitamin A is needed for developing embryos, neonates and adults. Our laboratory has developed methods that enable the study of vitamin A function in both early and late embryonic processes, and more recently during postnatal life. Our recently published work shows that when limiting amounts of atRA are provided after embryonic day (E) 10.5 in the rat, a highly reproducible and penetrant state of late fetal vitamin A-deficiency (VAD) is produced in the organs of developing fetuses. This work shows that a large number of organ systems are adversely affected, including the eye. The optic fissure does not close, and severe folding and collapse of the retina is observed at E18.5. In our most recent work, we show that coloboma and retinal folding represent distinct VAD-dependent effects. The downregulation of Pitx2 in VAD may be related to the failure of the optic fissure to close, whereas a reduction in cyclin D1 and the cell adhesion molecules, N-cadherin and B-catenin, may play a role in the retinal thinning, folding and collapse observed in late VAD fetuses. We are also studying the function of several novel atRA responsive genes, and have found that one of these genes (RAINB1) plays an essential role in neurite outgrowth, and in the development of the cranial nerves, eye, and brain. Project 2. Cellular and in vivo approaches are being used to address how the 4-HPR analog, 4-hydroxybenzylretinone (4-HBR), exerts its antitumor effects on cancer cells. In collaboration with our colleagues at the OSU, we have found that the carbon-linked 4-HPR analog, 4-hydroxybenzylretinone (4-HBR), does not need to be hydrolyzed back to atRA to function in culture or in vivo. Our studies also indicate that 4-HBR is less toxic than 4-HPR. Recently, we reported that 4-HBR rapidly induces ER stress-mediated responses and this may represent a mechanism whereby this compound produces its chemotherapeutic effects. Work to further elucidate the cellular pathways that are altered by 4-HBR is underway. Studies of additional nonhydrolyzable compounds, including glucuronide and glucose derivatives of 4-HBR are also ongoing. Project 3. Additional studies in the lab are directed at developing improved vitamin analogs for the treatment of acne. Using the Rhino mouse as a model, the ability of compounds to produce a reduction in comedone size is being studied. We have identified a specific subset of vitamin D analogs that are effective in this model. Studies are underway to determine how vitamin D compounds act to induce comedolysis. PARTICIPANTS: See - PhD received 2008: Knutson - PhD received 2008 Muley - completed postdoctoral training; McNeill - PhD in progress TARGET AUDIENCES: Not relevant to this project. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.

Impacts The reproductive efficiency and health of animals, including humans, is clearly influenced by nutritional status. It is becoming abundantly clear that rather than striving only to prevent overt nutrient deficiency, that we need to begin to develop an understanding of "optimal" levels of a given nutrient to promote health. A detailed understanding of the physiological and molecular processes for which vitamins are needed is essential not only for optimizing human health, but also for determining how vitamin derivatives might be used in the treatment of human disease. For example, vitamin A compounds have shown promise in the prevention and treatment of cancer, as well as in the treatment of acne. However, the toxicity of many retinoids limits their use. Similar potential exists for the use of vitamin D analogs in a number of diseases, but the side effect, hypercalcemia, has been a major limitation to the advancement of these efforts. Thus studies of new vitamin A analogs and non-calcemic vitamin D analogs may offer new approaches to the treatment of several disease states, including acne and cancer. Numerous patents that have issued or have been filed through the Wisconsin Alumini Research Foundation have arisen from these studies.

Publications

Progress 01/01/07 to 12/31/07

Outputs OUTPUTS: The overall focus of this work is the study of the fat-soluble vitamins A and D. Ongoing work in three project areas is described below. Project 1. Both nutritional and genetic approaches are being used to determine how and when vitamin A is needed for developing embryos. Our laboratory has developed methods that enable the study of vitamin A function in both early and late embryonic processes. Using this model, we have shown that vitamin A plays a critical early role in patterning the heart, hindbrain and axial skeleton. Our recently published work shows that when limiting amounts of atRA are provided after embryonic day 10.5 in the rat, a highly reproducible and penetrant state of late fetal vitamin A-deficiency (VAD) is produced in the organs of developing fetuses. These fetuses also display anteriorization of cervical regions of the skeleton and novel posteriorization events at the thoracic and sacral levels, and also show sternal and pelvic malformations not previously observed in genetic models. We are now using these nutritional models to explore the molecular mechanisms that are disrupted by embryonic vitamin A-deficiency. We are also studying the distribution and function of novel atRA responsive genes, and have found that one of these genes (RAINB1) plays an essential role in neurite outgrowth. Project 2. Cellular and in vivo approaches are being used to address how the 4-HPR analog, 4-hydroxybenzylretinone (4-HBR), exerts its antitumor effects on cancer cells. In collaboration with our colleagues at the OSU, we have found that the carbon-linked 4-HPR analog (4-HBR) does not need to be hydrolyzed back to atRA to function in culture or in vivo. Studies of the efficacy 4-HBR in chemotherapy of DMBA-induced mammary tumors in the rat show that the non-hydrolysable analog is equally effective in reducing tumor size and number, and does so without reducing blood retinol levels, an undesirable side affect associated with the use of the parent compound, 4-HPR. Although 4-HBR can bind and transactivate RARs, this is not required for it to induce cell death. Recently, we reported that 4-HBR rapidly induces ER stress-mediated responses and may represent a mechanism whereby this compound produces its chemotherapeutic effects. Project 3. Additional studies in the lab are directed at developing improved vitamin analogs for the treatment of disease. One example is the use of retinoids for the treatment of acne. A major limitation to current oral therapy is teratogenic liability. As a potential improvement, we are studying sterically hindered vitamin A analogs. Using the Rhino mouse as a model, the ability of compounds to produce a reduction in comedone size is being studied. We have also found that some vitamin D analogs are effective in this model. Studies are underway to determine whether these approaches may offer any advantage to existing therapies. PARTICIPANTS: J. Ahrens, Research Specialist M. Kaiser, Senior Research Specialist In Training E. McNeill, Research Asst A. See, Research Asst N. Nieves, Research Asst A. Anding, Research Asst D. Knutson, Research Asst TARGET AUDIENCES: Biochemical, Cellular and Molecular and Medical Research Communities, with the Intent of Increasing Knowledge, as well as, to Capitalize on the Translational Value of this Research.

Impacts The reproductive efficiency and health of animals, including humans, is clearly influenced by nutritional status. It is becoming abundantly clear that rather than striving only to prevent overt nutrient deficiency, that we need to begin to develop an understanding of "optimal" levels of a given nutrient to promote health. A detailed understanding of the physiological and molecular processes for which vitamins are needed is essential not only for optimizing human health, but also for determining how vitamin derivatives might be used in the treatment of human disease. For example, vitamin A compounds have shown promise in the prevention and treatment of cancer, as well as in the treatment of acne. However, the toxicity of many retinoids limits their use. Similar potential exists for the use of vitamin D analogs in a number of diseases, but the side effect, hypercalcemia, has been a major limitation to the advancement of these efforts. Thus studies of new vitamin A analogs and non-calcemic vitamin D analogs may offer new approaches to the treatment of several disease states, including acne and cancer. Numerous patents that have issued or have been filed through the Wisconsin Alumini Research Foundation have arisen from these studies.

Publications

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Vitamin Research - UNIV OF WISCONSIN