Department of Molecular Biology, Institute of Genetics and Animal Biotechnology, Polish Academy of Science, Postępu 36A, 05-552 Magdalenka, Poland
Rafał Skopek
Department of Molecular Biology, Institute of Genetics and Animal Biotechnology, Polish Academy of Science, Postępu 36A, 05-552 Magdalenka, Poland
Małgorzata Palusińska
Department of Molecular Biology, Institute of Genetics and Animal Biotechnology, Polish Academy of Science, Postępu 36A, 05-552 Magdalenka, Poland
Tino Schenk
Department of Hematology/Oncology, Clinic of Internal Medicine II, Jena University Hospital, 07747 Jena, Germany
Sven Stengel
Department of Internal Medicine IV, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Disease, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, 07747 Jena, Germany
Sławomir Lewicki
Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology, Military Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, 01-163 Warsaw, Poland
Leszek Kraj
Department of Oncology, Medical University of Warsaw, 01-163 Warsaw, Poland
Paweł Kamiński
Department of Gynecology and Oncological Gynecology, Military Institute of Medicine, 01-163 Warsaw, Poland
Arthur Zelent
Department of Molecular Biology, Institute of Genetics and Animal Biotechnology, Polish Academy of Science, Postępu 36A, 05-552 Magdalenka, Poland
The retinoids are a group of compounds including vitamin A and its active metabolite all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA). Retinoids regulate a variety of physiological functions in multiple organ systems, are essential for normal immune competence, and are involved in the regulation of cell growth and differentiation. Vitamin A derivatives have held promise in cancer treatment and ATRA is used in differentiation therapy of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). ATRA and other retinoids have also been successfully applied in a variety of dermatological conditions such as skin cancer, psoriasis, acne, and ichthyosis. Moreover, modulation of retinoic acid receptors and retinoid X (or rexinoid) receptors function may affect dermal cells. The studies using complex genetic models with various combinations of retinoic acid receptors (RARs) and retinoid X (or rexinoid) receptors (RXRs) indicate that retinoic acid and its derivatives have therapeutic potential for a variety of serious dermatological disorders including some malignant conditions. Here, we provide a synopsis of the main advances in understanding the role of ATRA and its receptors in dermatology.
