Vitamin D and retinoids in parathyroid glands (Review)

Vitamin D and retinoids are important regulators of differentiation and pro liferation in a number of tissues, and have been implicated as chemoprevent ive agents in several different tumors. While vitamin D is known to be impo rtant for regulation of parathyroid function and proliferation, it has rece ntly been established that parathyroid cells also are targets for retinoids . Hyperparathyroidism (HPT) is a common disorder, and evaluation of the dis ease has indicated high prevalence of subclinical disease, as well as clear benefits of offering treatment for the disease. This review summarizes the data so far gathered concerning parathyroid cells, vitamin D and retinoids , with clear implication on prospects of possible medical treatment of hype rparathyroidism.