Phorbol ester binding to oral epithelial cells in the presence of retinoic acid or N-nitrosonornicotine.

Although the specific mechanisms by which phorbol ester tumour promoters exert their various effects are not known, their actions are mediated by cell membrane receptors which contain lipids as major components of the receptor complex. Since cell modulators such as retinoic acid (RA) and nitrosonornicotine (NNN) can alter cell lipids, the binding of a phorbol ester to cells was examined at time intervals when lipid changes mediated by these modulators occur. Epithelial cells prepared from hamster cheek pouches were treated with all-trans RA or NNN for varying periods of time, then specific binding of phorbol esters was investigated. Cells treated with RA for intervals up to 24 h showed decreased binding when compared with untreated cells. Those treated with NNN for up to 168 h showed increased specific binding. The results suggest that alterations in the cell lipids may affect the specific binding of phorbol esters to cells.