9-cis-retinoic acid (9cRA), a retinoid X receptor (RXR) ligand, exerts immunosuppressive effects on dendritic cells by RXR-dependent activation:: Inhibition of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ blocks some of the 9cRA activities, and precludes them to mature phenotype development

At nanomolar range, 9-cis-retinoic acid (9cRA) was able to interfere in the normal differentiation process from human monocyte to immature dendritic cell (DQ and produced a switch in mature DCs to a less stimulatory mode than untreated cells. 9cRA-treated mature DCs secreted high levels of IL-10 with an IL-12 reduced production. The phenotypic alterations unleashed by 9cRA were similar but not identical to other specific retinoid X receptor (RXR) agonists and to those already reported for rosiglitazone, a PPAR gamma activator, on DCs. The simultaneous addition of 9cRA and rosiglitazone on DCs displayed additive effects. Moreover, addition to cultures of GW9662, a specific inhibitor of PPAR gamma, or the RXR pan-antagonist HX603, blocked these changes. All these results suggest an activation of PPAR gamma-RXR and other RXR containing dimers by 9cRA in DCs. Finally, both GW9662 and HX603 by themselves altered the maturation process unleashed by TNF alpha, poly(I:C) or LPS on human DCs further suggesting that the heterodimer PPAR gamma-RXR must fulfill a significant role in the physiological maturation process of these cells in addition to the repressing effects reported till now for this nuclear receptor. The Journal of Immunology, 2007, 178: 6130-6139.