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All-trans retinoic acid ( at RA), the active metabolite of vitamin A, is a ligand for several nuclear receptors and acts as a critical regulator of many physiologic processes. The cytochrome P450 family 26 (CYP26) enzymes are responsible for at RA clearance, and are potential drug targets to increase concentrations of endogenous at RA in a tissue-specific manner. Talarozole is a potent inhibitor of CYP26A1 and CYP26B1, and has shown some success in clinical trials. However, it is not known what magnitude of change is needed in tissue at RA concentrations to promote at RA signaling changes. The aim of this study was to quantify the increase in endogenous at RA concentrations necessary to alter at RA signaling in target organs, and to establish the relationship between CYP26 inhibition and altered at RA concentrations in tissues. Following a single 2.5-mg/kg dose of talarozole to mice, at RA concentrations increased up to 5.7-, 2.7-, and 2.5-fold in serum, liver, and testis, respectively, resulting in induction of Cyp26a1 in the liver and testis and Rar β and Pgc 1 β in liver. The increase in at RA concentrations was well predicted from talarozole pharmacokinetics and in vitro data of CYP26 inhibition. After multiple doses of talarozole, a significant increase in at RA concentrations was observed in serum but not in liver or testis. This lack of increase in at RA concentrations correlated with an increase in CYP26A1 expression in the liver. The increased at RA concentrations in serum without a change in liver suggest that CYP26B1 in extrahepatic sites plays a key role in regulating systemic at RA exposure., (Copyright © 2017 by The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics.)

All-trans-retinoic acid (atRA) is the active metabolite of vitamin A. The liver is the main storage organ of vitamin A, but activation of the retinoic acid receptors (RARs) in mouse liver and in human liver cell lines has also been shown. AlthoughatRA treatment improves mitochondrial function in skeletal muscle in rodents, its role in modulating mitochondrial function in the liver is controversial, and little data are available regarding the human liver. The aim of this study was to determine whetheratRA regulates hepatic mitochondrial activity.atRA treatment increased the mRNA and protein expression of multiple components of mitochondrialβ-oxidation, tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, and respiratory chain. Additionally,atRA increased mitochondrial biogenesis in human hepatocytes and in HepG2 cells with and without lipid loading based on peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma coactivator 1αand 1βand nuclear respiratory factor 1 mRNA and mitochondrial DNA quantification.atRA also increasedβ-oxidation and ATP production in HepG2 cells and in human hepatocytes. Knockdown studies of RARα, RARβ, and PPARδrevealed that the enhancement of mitochondrial biogenesis andβ-oxidation byatRA requires peroxisome proliferator activated receptor delta. In vivo in mice,atRA treatment increased mitochondrial biogenesis markers after an overnight fast. Inhibition ofatRA metabolism by talarozole, a cytochrome P450 (CYP) 26 specific inhibitor, increased the effects ofatRA on mitochondrial biogenesis markers in HepG2 cells and in vivo in mice. These studies show thatatRA regulates mitochondrial function and lipid metabolism and that increasingatRA concentrations in human liver via CYP26 inhibition may increase mitochondrial biogenesis and fatty acidβ-oxidation and provide therapeutic benefit in diseases associated with mitochondrial dysfunction., (Copyright © 2016 by The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics.)

Vitamin A (retinol) and its active metabolite, all-trans-retinoic acid (atRA), play critical roles in regulating the differentiation, growth, and migration of immune cells. Similarly, as critical signaling molecules in the regulation of the cell cycle, retinoids are important in cancers. Concentrations of atRA are tightly regulated in tissues, predominantly by the availability of retinol, synthesis of atRA by ALDH1A enzymes and metabolism and clearance of atRA by CYP26 enzymes. The ALDH1A and CYP26 enzymes are expressed in several cell types in the immune system and in cancer cells. In the immune system, the ALDH1A and CYP26 enzymes appear to modulate RA concentrations. Consequently, alterations in the activity of ALDH1A and CYP26 enzymes are expected to change disease outcomes in inflammation. There is increasing evidence from various disease models of intestinal and skin inflammation that treatment with atRA has a positive effect on disease markers. However, whether aberrant atRA concentrations or atRA synthesis and metabolism play a role in inflammatory disease development and progression is not well understood. In cancers, especially in acute promyelocytic leukemia and neuroblastoma, increasing intracellular concentrations of atRA appears to provide clinical benefit. Inhibition of the CYP26 enzymes to increase atRA concentrations and combat therapy resistance has been pursued as a drug target in these cancers. This chapter covers the current knowledge of how atRA and retinol regulate the immune system and inflammation, how retinol and atRA metabolism is altered in inflammation and cancer, and what roles atRA-metabolizing enzymes have in immune responses and cancers., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

All-trans-retinoic acid (atRA), the active metabolite of vitamin A, induces gene transcription via binding to nuclear retinoic acid receptors (RARs). The primary hydroxylated metabolites formed from atRA by CYP26A1, and the subsequent metabolite 4-oxo-atRA, bind to RARs and potentially have biologic activity. Hence, CYP26A1, the main atRA hydroxylase, may function either to deplete bioactive retinoids or to form active metabolites. This study aimed to determine the role of CYP26A1 in modulating RAR activation via formation and elimination of active retinoids. After treatment of HepG2 cells with atRA, (4S)-OH-atRA, (4R)-OH-atRA, 4-oxo-atRA, and 18-OH-atRA, mRNAs of CYP26A1 and RARβ were increased 300- to 3000-fold, with 4-oxo-atRA and atRA being the most potent inducers. However, >60% of the 4-OH-atRA enantiomers were converted to 4-oxo-atRA in the first 12 hours of treatment, suggesting that the activity of the 4-OH-atRA was due to 4-oxo-atRA. In human hepatocytes, atRA, 4-OH-atRA, and 4-oxo-atRA induced CYP26A1 and 4-oxo-atRA formation was observed from 4-OH-atRA. In HepG2 cells, 4-oxo-atRA formation was observed even in the absence of CYP26A1 activity and this formation was not inhibited by ketoconazole. In human liver microsomes, 4-oxo-atRA formation was supported by NAD(+), suggesting that 4-oxo-atRA formation is mediated by a microsomal alcohol dehydrogenase. Although 4-oxo-atRA was not formed by CYP26A1, it was depleted by CYP26A1 (Km = 63 nM and intrinsic clearance = 90 μl/min per pmol). Similarly, CYP26A1 depleted 18-OH-atRA and the 4-OH-atRA enantiomers. These data support the role of CYP26A1 to clear bioactive retinoids, and suggest that the enzyme forming active 4-oxo-atRA may be important in modulating retinoid action., (Copyright © 2015 by The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics.)

Cytochrome P450 CYP26 enzymes are responsible for all-trans-retinoic acid (atRA) clearance. Inhibition of CYP26 enzymes will increase endogenous atRA concentrations and is an attractive therapeutic target. However, the selectivity and potency of the existing atRA metabolism inhibitors toward CYP26A1 and CYP26B1 is unknown, and no selective CYP26A1 or CYP26B1 inhibitors have been developed. Here the synthesis and potent inhibitory activity of the first CYP26A1 selective inhibitors is reported. A series of nonazole CYP26A1 selective inhibitors was identified with low nM potency. The lead compound 3-{4-[2-(5,5,8,8-tetramethyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphthalen-2-yl)-1,3-dioxolan-2-yl] phenyl}4-propanoic acid (24) had 43-fold selectivity toward CYP26A1 with an IC50 of 340 nM. Compound 24 and its two structural analogues also inhibited atRA metabolism in HepG2 cells, resulting in increased potency of atRA toward RAR activation. The identified compounds have potential to become novel treatments aiming to elevate endogenous atRA concentrations and may be useful as cotreatment with atRA to combat therapy resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]