title: Nuclear retinoid receptors and pregnancy: placental transfer, functions, and pharmacological aspects.
abstract: Animal models of vitamin A (retinol) deficiency have highlighted its crucial role in reproduction and placentation, whereas an excess of retinoids (structurally or functionally related entities) can cause toxic and teratogenic effects in the embryo and foetus, especially in the first trimester of human pregnancy. Knock-out experimental strategies-targeting retinoid nuclear receptors RARs and RXRs have confirmed that the effects of vitamin A are mediated by retinoic acid (especially all-trans retinoic acid) and that this vitamin is essential for the developmental process. All these data show that the vitamin A pathway and metabolism are as important for the well-being of the foetus, as they are for that of the adult. Accordingly, during this last decade, extensive research on retinoid metabolism has yielded detailed knowledge on all the actors in this pathway, spurring the development of antagonists and agonists for therapeutic and research applications. Natural and synthetic retinoids are currently used in clinical practice, most often on the skin for the treatment of acne, and as anti-oncogenic agents in acute promyelocytic leukaemia. However, because of the toxicity and teratogenicity of retinoids during pregnancy, their pharmacological use needs a sound knowledge of their metabolism, molecular aspects, placental transfer, and action.
authors: EA7281, Retinoids, Reproduction Developmental Diseases, School of Medicine, Clermont Université, Université d'Auvergne, 63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France.
authors: Aurélie
authors: A
authors: Comptour
authors: EA7281, Retinoids, Reproduction Developmental Diseases, School of Medicine, Clermont Université, Université d'Auvergne, 63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France.
authors: Marion
authors: M
authors: Rouzaire
authors: EA7281, Retinoids, Reproduction Developmental Diseases, School of Medicine, Clermont Université, Université d'Auvergne, 63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France.|GReD, Clermont Université, Université d'Auvergne, 63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France.
authors: Corinne
authors: C
authors: Belville
authors: EA7281, Retinoids, Reproduction Developmental Diseases, School of Medicine, Clermont Université, Université d'Auvergne, 63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France.|Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, CHU Clermont-Ferrand, 63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France.
authors: Damien
authors: D
authors: Bouvier
authors: EA7281, Retinoids, Reproduction Developmental Diseases, School of Medicine, Clermont Université, Université d'Auvergne, 63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France.|Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, CHU Clermont-Ferrand, 63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France.
authors: Denis
authors: D
authors: Gallot
authors: EA7281, Retinoids, Reproduction Developmental Diseases, School of Medicine, Clermont Université, Université d'Auvergne, 63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France.
authors: Loïc
authors: L
authors: Blanchon
authors: EA7281, Retinoids, Reproduction Developmental Diseases, School of Medicine, Clermont Université, Université d'Auvergne, 63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France. vincent.sapin@udamail.fr.|Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, CHU Clermont-Ferrand, 63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France. vincent.sapin@udamail.fr.|Laboratoire de Biochimie Médicale, 4R3, Faculté de Médecine, 28 Place Henri-Dunant, BP38, 63001, Clermont-Ferrand Cedex, France. vincent.sapin@udamail.fr.
authors: Vincent
authors: V
authors: Sapin
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000378:metabolism*; D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D012098:Reproduction; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid
keywords: Agonists; Antagonists; Placentation; Retinoid receptors; Vitamin A