Retinoids are compounds with pleiotropic functions and a relatively selecti
ve targeting of certain skin structures. They are vitamins, because retinol
(vitamin A) is not synthesized in the body and must be derived from diet,
but also hormones with intracrine activity, because retinol is transformed
into molecules that bind to nuclear receptors, exhibit their activity, and
are subsequently inactivated. Retinoids exert their effects on target cells
by binding and activating nuclear retinoid receptors. Retinoid receptors b
ind their ligands in form of dimers. Heterodimers can be formed between two
different retinoid receptor molecules but also between retinoid X receptor
s and the vitamin D receptor as well as the triiodothyronin receptor. This
fact indicates complex interactions between retinoids and further hormonal
signal transduction molecules. Interaction of retinoid receptors with trans
criptional factors activated by other signal transduction mechanisms, e.g.
AP-1, may provide dissociation of the retinoid effects. Retinoids can exhib
it agonistic activity but also be neutral antagonists and inverse agonists.
Topical and oral retinol, tretinoin, isotretinoin, and bexarotene, topical
alitretinoin, retinaldehyde, motretinide, adapalene, tazarotene, and syste
min acitretin compose the list of launched retinoids. Psoriasis and related
disorders, congenital disorders of keratinization, acne, photoaging and hy
povitaminosis A are classical approved indications of retinoid treatment, w
hereas cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, AIDS-associated Kaposi's sarcoma, acute p
romyelocytic leukemia and actinic lentigines were currently confirmed. In a
ddition, retinoids have been successfully used in several other dermatoses,
e.g. epithelial precanceroses and tumors, seborrhea, rosacea and acneiform
dermatoses, lichen planus, eosinophilic folliculitis, condylomata accumina
ta, lichen sclerosus and atrophicus. Highly receptor selective molecules, r
etinoic acid receptor-beta -inducers, AP-1 complex antagonists, and inverse
agonists will be probably lead the retinoid development in the near future
. New, more effective and less toxic retinoids, alone or in combination wit
h other drugs and new delivery systems may provide therapeutic solutions fo
r benign and malignant proliferative skin diseases, such as psoriasis and n
onmelanoma tumors, cancer chemoprevention and differentiation therapy. Copy
right ((C)) 2001 S. Karger AG,Basel.