ácido retinoico y función pulmonar

retinoic acid (ra), the main metabolite of vitamin a (retinol) is essential for both normal embryonic development and maintenance of differentiation in an adult organism. ra is important during periods of rapid cell proliferation, such as when development of lung occurs. in the mammalian lung ra induces alveoli formation and septation in the development and postnatal period but in the adult mammalian lung this event cannot be induced. nevertheless, there is evidence that ra induces the complete regeneration of alveoli that have been destroyed by noxious treatments. in this paper, we review some of effects of ra in the development and regeneration of the lung and its importance in the therapy of pulmonary diseases