The synthetic retinoid (4-hydroxyphenyl)retinamide decreases collagen expression in vitro and in the tight-skin mouse.

Abstract

We documented the effect of the retinoid (4-hydroxyphenyl)retinamide on collagen expression in a tissue culture and in an animal model of scleroderma. We used RNA analysis, chloramphenicol acetyltransferase assays, organ culture, and histologic evaluation. We showed that (4-hydroxyphenyl)retinamide decreases alpha 1(I) collagen messenger RNA and transcription in cultured cells, and decreases collagen levels in the dermis of tight-skin mice. These results provide a basis for further experiments to address the efficacy of (4-hydroxyphenyl)retinamide in the treatment of scleroderma.