Vitamin A And Retinoids: An Update Of Biological Aspects And Clinical Applications (molecular And Cell Biology Updates)

Rapid progress has been made in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of cell growth and oncogenesis during the past decade. Special attention has been given to the presentation of the frequently neglected close correlation between changes in signal transduction and metabolic pathways during oncogenesis. This book advances the knowledge of mechanisms regulating metabolism and functioning of vitamin A and offers the most recent results of research on the clinical efficiency of retinoids in skin disorders and cancer. The book presents recent findings on the regulation of cell growth in normal and neoplastic tissues by growth factors including hormones, and by the activation and inactivation of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes, respectively. It also offers a survey of the molecular and cell biochemistry of retinoids. Basic researchers in biochemistry, pharmacology and cell biology as well as clinicians will find this book very informative and up-to-date. This book advances the knowledge of mechanisms regulating metabolism and functioning of vitamin A and offers the most recent results of research on clinical efficiency of retinoids in skin disorders and cancer. Basic researchers in biochemistry, pharmacology, cell biology, and clinicians will find this book very informative and up-to-date. The chapters, organized in six sections, are contributed by leading scientists who have been working in the retinoid field for decades. Their experience and competence is aknowledged worldwide. Front Matter....Pages I-XI Factors affecting blood levels of vitamin A....Pages 1-16 Enzymology and biogenesis of retinoic acid....Pages 17-27 Requirements and safety of vitamin A in humans....Pages 29-43 Current views on carotenoids: biology, epidemiology and trials....Pages 45-57 The role of vitamin A in visual transduction....Pages 59-72 The role and evolutionary development of retinoic-acid signalling in the eye....Pages 73-82 Vitamin A, retinoids and immune responses....Pages 83-95 Vitamin A and infectious diseases....Pages 97-108 Retinoid metabolism in the embryo....Pages 109-119 Physiologically-based pharmacokinetic scaling in retinoid developmental toxicity....Pages 121-128 Retinoic acid receptors in normal and neoplastic haematopoietic cells....Pages 129-139 Modulation of nuclear vitamin D signalling by retinoids....Pages 141-149 Pharmacology and molecular mechanisms of retinoid action in skin....Pages 151-159 Synthetic retinoids and their usefulness in biology and medicine....Pages 161-196 Proposed role of gap junctional communication in retinoid-induced suppression of proliferation and inhibition of neoplastic transformation....Pages 197-208 Effects of all- trans retinoic acid and 13- cis retinoic acid on breast cancer cell lines....Pages 209-219 Retinoids and interferons: combination studies in human cancer....Pages 221-230 Treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia with all- trans retinoic acid....Pages 231-240 Bioactivities of N-(4-hydroxyphenyl) retinamide....Pages 241-250 Therapeutic uses of retinoids in skin diseases....Pages 251-259 Retinoid treatment of photoaged skin....Pages 261-277 Therapeutic uses of retinoic acid receptor antagonists and inverse agonists....Pages 279-290 Back Matter....Pages 293-300 This text advances the knowledge of mechanisms regulating metabolism and functioning of vitamin A and offers results of research on clinical efficiency of retinoids in skin disorders and cancer.