[Effect of all-trans retinoic acid deficiency on iron metabolism in rat primary hepatocyte].

Objective: To study the influence of atRA on iron metabolism in cultured primary rat hepatocyte.

Methods: Rat primary hepatocytes were isolated by two-step in situ collagenase perfusion method by Seglen, and after that Cell viability was observed by 0.4% trypan blue. And then primary hepatocyte were treated into 6 wells plate with 0, 0.5, 1 and 50 micromol/L atRA and DMEM contained 10% fetal bovine serum. After 72h, IRP2 mRNA, TFR mRNA, Fnm RNA levels were measured by RT-PCR.

Results: VA deficiency can decrease the viability and function. Moreover hepatic IRP2 mRNA and TFRmRNA levels were increased by VA deficiency, which diminishing expression of Fn mRNA.

Conclusion: vitamin A deficiency can change cellular iron metabolism by inducing IRP2-Fn-TFR pathway. AtRA supplementation inhibited the increase in IRP2 mRNA expression. Taken together, these results indicate that vitamin A deficiency can regulate iron metabolism by IRP2-TFR-Fn pathway.