Retinoic acid and its receptors.
Retinoic acid (RA)--the active metabolite of vitamin A--and its analogues have pleiotropic effects on growth, differentiation, proliferation, and development. RA, and its analogues, determine embryonic pattern formation and inhibit tumor growth; however, they are also teratogens. There is a potential clinical use for retinoids in cancer prevention and treatment. RA has already been used as a cyto-differentiation drug in stabilizing cancer cells in acute promyelocytic leukemia. The biologic effects of retinoic acid are mediated by its retinoic acid receptors; to date, several acid receptors have been characterized. The presence of multiple receptors for one ligand helps explain the diverse biologic roles of retinoic acid and suggests that each type of receptor has a specific function.
Department of Pathology, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance 90509.
Y J
YJ
Wan
D000818:Animals; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000145:classification / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000494:pharmacology*
D002352:Carrier Proteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid; D014212:Tretinoin