Retinoids: a journey from the molecular structures and mechanisms of action to clinical uses in dermatology and adverse effects

Abstract

Retinoids are a class of compounds derived from vitamin A or having structural and/or functional similarities with vitamin A. They are classified into three generations based on their molecular structures. Inside the body, retinoids bind to several classes of proteins including retinoid-binding proteins and retinoid nuclear receptors. This eventually leads to the activation of specific regulatory regions of DNA – called the retinoic acid response elements – involved in regulating cell growth, differentiation and apoptosis. Several clinical trials have studied the role of topical and systemic retinoids in disease, and research is still ongoing. Currently, retinoids are used in several fields of medicine. This paper aims to review the structure, mechanisms of action, and adverse effects of retinoids, as well as some of their current uses in Dermatology.

Keywords:

• Retinoids
• retinoic acid
• isotretinoin
• acne vulgaris
• psoriasis

Acknowledgements

Figures were created using the software eMolecules at www.emolecules.com.

Disclosure statement

None of the authors have any conflict of interest to disclose. There is no funding source. The article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors and thus there was no need for informed consent.