Expression of retinoic acid target genes in the infarct zone and effects on cardiofibroblast proliferation.

<p><b>A)</b> Gene expression of retinoic acid target genes in cardiofibroblast (CF) and cardiomyocytes (CM) isolated from left ventricles of infarcted RAR-luciferase reporter hearts 1 week after infarction. RNA was extracted from cells from the infarcted zone and amplified with real time PCR using primers specific for retinol binding protein 1 (RBP1), cytochrome P450 26B1 (CYP26B1), aldehyde dehydrogenase 1A2 (ALDH1A2), and retinoic acid receptors alpha, beta and gamma (RAR α,β,γ). The figure shows test gene expression relative to expression of rpl32, which was similar in both cell types. Data are mean±SD of n = 5 experiments in each group. <b>B)</b> Cardiofibroblasts were isolated from C57BL6 hearts and cultured in medium supplemented with 1 µM all-trans retinoic acid (atRA) and 10 µM EdU, as indicator of cell division. After 96 hours, EdU incorporation was evaluated by flow cytometry. Data are presented as mean±SD of n = 4 in each group.