Review articleRetinoic acid signalling in the development of the epidermis, the limbs and the secondary palate

Retinoic acid (RA), the active derivative of vitamin A, is one of the major regulators of embryonic development, including the development of the epidermis, the limbs and the secondary palate. In the embryo, RA levels are tightly regulated by the activity of RA synthesizing and degrading enzymes. Aberrant RA levels due to genetic variations in RA metabolism pathways contribute to congenital malformations in these structures. In vitro and in vivo studies provide considerable evidence on the effects of RA and its possible role in the development of the epidermis, the limbs and the secondary palate. In conjunction with other regulatory factors, RA seems to stimulate the development of the epidermis by inducing proliferation and differentiation of ectodermal cells into epidermal cells. In the limbs, the exact timing of RA location and level is crucial to initiate limb bud formation and to allow chondrogenesis and subsequent osteogenesis. In the secondary palate, the correct RA concentration is a key factor for mesenchymal cell proliferation during palatal shelf outgrowth, elevation and adhesion, and finally to allow bone formation in the hard palate. These findings are highly relevant to understanding the mechanism of RA signalling in development and in the aetiology of specific congenital diseases.