Retinoids are a family of vitamin A analogs and metabolites. Natural metabolic derivatives of vitamin A include all trans retinoic acid (ATRA), 9-cis-retinoic acid (9-cis-RA) and 13-cis-retinoic acid (13-cis-RA). These natural retinoids signal through the RXR and RAR family of nuclear receptors that bind to retinoic acid response elements in the promoter of target genes, including Hox genes, and activate gene transcription. All-trans-retinoic acid plays a major role in cellular differentiation and proliferation of epithelial tissue and natural retinoids are known to be of critical importance in the development of organs as well as the protection and regeneration after organ injury.
Pharmacological modulation of the retinoid / RAR / RXR pathway is a novel approach for the treatment of various disease conditions including fibrotic disorders, ischemia- induced acute and chronic organ damage and the treatment of acute liver failure. Angion Biomedica has identified novel small molecule modulators of this pathway and is currently exploring the therapeutic potential of these compounds for a variety of acute and chronic indications in several preclinical translational research studies.
