Regulation of lipid and lipoprotein metabolism by retinoids

Retinoids are small vitamin A-derived lipophilic compounds that influence a wide variety of developmental and metabolic processes. Retinoids exert their action by activating transcription factors belonging to the retinoic acid receptor (RAR) and retinoid X receptor (RXR) subfamilies of nuclear receptors. Therapeutically, retinoids are used for the treatment of dermatological disorders and certain cancers. Dyslipidemia is a common side-effect of therapy with the currently available retinoids. This review summarizes our current understanding of the molecular mechanisms of regulation of lipid and lipoprotein metabolism by retinoids.