Control of Innate and Adaptive Lymphocytes by the RAR-Retinoic Acid Axis

Author: Chang H KIM ¹
Author Information

1. Department of Pathology, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. chhkim@med.umich.edu, chkim@purdue.edu
Publication Type:Review
Keywords: Retinoic acid; T-cells; B-cells; NK cells; Innate lymphoid cells
MeSH: Antibody Formation; B-Lymphocytes; Killer Cells, Natural; Lymphocytes; Myeloid Cells; T-Lymphocyte Subsets; T-Lymphocytes; Tretinoin; Vitamin A
From:Immune Network 2018;18(1):e1-
CountryRepublic of Korea
Language:English
Abstract: Lymphocytes, such as T cells, B cells, and innate lymphoid cells (ILCs), play central roles in regulating immune responses. Retinoic acids (RAs) are vitamin A metabolites, produced and metabolized by certain tissue cells and myeloid cells in a tissue-specific manner. It has been established that RAs induce gut-homing receptors on T cells, B cells, and ILCs. A mounting body of evidence indicates that RAs exert far-reaching effects on functional differentiation and fate of these lymphocytes. For example, RAs promote effector T cell maintenance, generation of induced gut-homing regulatory and effector T cell subsets, antibody production by B cells, and functional maturation of ILCs. Key functions of RAs in regulating major groups of innate and adaptive lymphocytes are highlighted in this article.