Search resultsEffects of ethanol on physiological retinoic acid levels
Title
Effects of ethanol on physiological retinoic acid levels
Publication type
Journal Article
Year of Publication
2011
Authors
Journal
IUBMB Life
Volume
63
Issue
9
Pagination
701 - 706
Date published
2011
ISBN
15216543 (ISSN)
Keywords
alcohol, alcohol consumption, Alcohol Drinking, Animals, Atra, biosynthesis, Embryo, Mammalian, Ethanol, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, homeostasis, human, Humans, in vivo study, Mice, Molecular Structure, nonhuman, retinoic acid, retinoid, retinol, retinol dehydrogenase, review, signal transduction, Tretinoin, Vertebrata, Vitamin A, vitamin metabolism
Abstract
All-trans-retinoic acid (atRA) serves essential functions during embryogenesis and throughout postnatal vertebrate life. Insufficient or excess atRA causes teratogenic and/or toxic effects in the developing embryo: interference with atRA biosynthesis or signaling likely underlies some forms of cancer. Many symptoms of vitamin A (atRA precursor) deficiency and/or toxicity overlap with those of another pleiotropic agent-ethanol. These overlapping symptoms have prompted research to understand whether interference with atRA biosynthesis and/or action may explain (in part) pathology associated with excess ethanol consumption. Ethanol affects many aspects of retinoid metabolism and mechanisms of action site specifically, but no robust data support inhibition of vitamin A metabolism, resulting in decreased atRA in vivo during normal vitamin A nutriture. Actually, ethanol either has no effect on or increases atRA at select sites. Despite this realization, insight into whether interactions between ethanol and retinoids represent cause versus effect requires additional research.