title: [Retinoids: mechanisms of action].
abstract: Retinoids, vitamin A derivatives, are natural or synthetic molecules with pleiotropic effects, which regulate cell differentiation, proliferation and apoptosis. In target cell, the active natural metabolites retinoic acid (RA) and 9-cis-retinoic acid are synthetized from retinol by a two-step process with intermediate metabolite retinaldehyde. In 1987, the identification of the nuclear retinoic acid receptors that belong to the superfamily of nuclear receptors led to a significant progress in the comprehension of the mechanism of action of retinoids. There are two families of Retinoid Nuclear Receptors (RNR), the RA receptors (RAR), which natural ligand is RA, and the Retinoid X Receptors (RXR), which natural ligand is 9-cis-retinoic acid. Among synthetic retinoids, isotretinoin, acitretin, tazarotene and adapalene are ligands of the RAR, bexarotene is the first rexinoid (ligand of the RXR), alitretinoin the first panagonist (RAR+ RXR). For each family, there are 3 isotypes (α, β, γ), and for each isotype several isoforms. Each NRR is composed of 6 regions (A-F). 3 regions are of importance: the A/B region has a ligand-independent transcriptional activation function, the C region harbors the DNA binding domain, the E region harbors the ligand binding domain. To regulate the expression of target genes, NRR have to dimerize. RXR are obligatory in dimers (heterodimers RAR-RXR, homodimers RXR-RXR). Dimers binds specific sequences of DNA, present in the promoters of target genes. When the ligand, natural or synthetic, bind to RNR, coactivators are recruited and transcription factors are activated. In target cell, retinoids not utilized are degradated in polar metabolites by enzymes of cytochrome P450.
authors.affiliation: Service de Dermatologie, Hôpital Nord, Chemin des Bourrellys 13015 Marseille, France. philippe.berbis@ap-hm.fr
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Berbis
mesh_terms: D000077556:Alitretinoin; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / Q000502:physiology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008024:Ligands; D055503:Protein Multimerization / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D047488:Retinoid X Receptors / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D012176:Retinoids / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects*; D015533:Transcriptional Activation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D008024:Ligands; D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid; D047488:Retinoid X Receptors; D012176:Retinoids; D000077556:Alitretinoin; D014212:Tretinoin; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System