Retinoic acid protects against proteasome inhibition associated cell death in SH-SY5Y cells via the AKT pathway

► Low amounts of retinoic acid (RA) protect against irreversible proteasome inhibition induced cell death. ► Pretreatment with RA reverses oxidative stress and related cell death despite no changes in protein ubiquitination. ► Activation of the PI3/AKT pathway is essential for RA associated neuroprotection.