Retinoids in the Pathogenesis and Treatment of Liver Diseases. Review uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • Vitamin A (VA), all-trans-retinol (ROL), and its analogs are collectively called retinoids. Acting through the retinoic acid receptors RARα, RARβ, and RARγ, all-trans-retinoic acid, an active metabolite of VA, is a potent regulator of numerous biological pathways, including embryonic and somatic cellular differentiation, immune functions, and energy metabolism. The liver is the primary organ for retinoid storage and metabolism in humans. For reasons that remain incompletely understood, a body of evidence shows that reductions in liver retinoids, aberrant retinoid metabolism, and reductions in RAR signaling are implicated in numerous diseases of the liver, including hepatocellular carcinoma, non-alcohol-associated fatty liver diseases, and alcohol-associated liver diseases. Conversely, restoration of retinoid signaling, pharmacological treatments with natural and synthetic retinoids, and newer agonists for specific RARs show promising benefits for treatment of a number of these liver diseases. Here we provide a comprehensive review of the literature demonstrating a role for retinoids in limiting the pathogenesis of these diseases and in the treatment of liver diseases.

publication date

  • March 31, 2022

Research

keywords

  • Liver Diseases
  • Receptors, Retinoic Acid
  • Retinoids

Identity

PubMed Central ID

  • PMC9002467

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 85127414535

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.3892/or.2016.4795

PubMed ID

  • 35406069

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 14

issue

  • 7