J. Buck et al., ANHYDRORETINOL - A NATURALLY-OCCURRING INHIBITOR OF LYMPHOCYTE PHYSIOLOGY, The Journal of experimental medicine, 178(2), 1993, pp. 675-680
Vitamin A (retinol) is an essential cofactor for growth of B lymphocyt
es in culture and for activation of T lymphocytes by antigen receptor-
mediated signals. 14-hydroxy-4,14-retro-retinol (14-HRR) a metabolite
of retinol, has been implicated as the intracellular mediator of this
effect. Anhydroretinol (AR) is a retinol derivative with retro structu
re produced in activated human B lymphocytes and the insect cell lines
SF 21 and Schneider S2. AR reversibly inhibits retinol- and 14-HRR-de
pendent effects and blocks B lymphocyte proliferation as well as activ
ation of resting T lymphocytes. The intracellular signaling pathway bl
ocked by AR in T cell activation is distinct from the calcineurin/inte
rleukin 2 pathway inhibitable by cyclosporine A or FK-506.