BACKGROUND Retinoids are vital for embryonic development; both excesses and deficiencies of vitamin A are known to give similar patterns of birth defects. Concentrations of retinol in newborns and in pregnant women have been investigated, but concentrations of the biologically active metabolite all-trans retinoic acid and its isomer 13-cis retinoic acid have not. OBJECTIVE We measured serum c...

Isotretinoin (13-cis-retinoic acid [13CRA], Accutane) is used for the treatment of dermatological diseases. Isotretinoin is, however, teratogenic in animals and humans. The mechanism of action of its teratogenicity is still not clearly identified. It has little or no binding properties to cytosolic retinoid-binding proteins or nuclear retinoid receptors (RAR, RXR). One hypothesis is that the te...

At present, the effect of retinoic acid as an angiogenesis inhibitor in the treatment of cancer cells has been demonstrated (1, 2). These cells may lose their sensitivity to the drug after a while and 13-cis retinoic acid fails to exert its anti-angiogenic effect (1). The cancer cells are resistant to the effects of 13-cis retinoic acid can be re-sensitive to this drug through increased express...

The binding of endogenous retinoids and stereoisomers of retinoic acid (RA) to the retinoid nuclear receptors, RA receptor (RARs) and retinoid X receptors (RXRs), was characterized using nucleosol preparations from transiently transfected COS-1 cells. Among several stereoisomers of RA tested, including 7-cis-, 9-cis-, 11-cis-, 13-cis-, and all-trans-RA, only 9-cis-RA effectively competes with 9...

The activity of dietary and topical administration of three retinoids, all-trans-retinoic acid, 13-cis-retinoic acid, and N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)retinamide (4-HPR), as promoters of skin tumor induction in SENCAR mice was studied. When administered as dietary supplements at their maximum tolerated dose levels, all three retinoids promoted tumorigenesis in mice initiated with a single topical dose of...

SYNOPSIS. This paper summarizes recent work on various aspects of hormonal control of regeneration in the crustacean, Uca pugilator. Hormonal control in this crab is effected by means of the crustactean steroid hormones, the ecdysteroids. New evidence is presented supporting a role for the retinoid hormones, all-trans retinoic acid and 9-cis retinoic acid, in the control of regeneration in thes...

To determine the effect of retinoic acid (RA) in neuroblastoma we treated RA sensitive neuroblastoma cell lines with 9-cis RA or ATRA for 9 days, or for 5 days followed by absence of RA for another 4 days. Both isomers induced apoptosis and reduced cell density as a result of cell differentiation and/or apoptosis. Flow cytometry revealed that 9-cis RA induced apoptosis more effectively than ATR...

Vitamin A (retinol) and provitamin A (beta-carotene) are metabolized to specific retinoid derivatives which function in either vision or growth and development. The metabolite 11-cis-retinal functions in light absorption for vision in chordate and nonchordate animals, whereas all-trans-retinoic acid and 9-cis-retinoic acid function as ligands for nuclear retinoic acid receptors that regulate ge...