A pleiotropic response is induced in F9 embryonal carcinoma cells and rhino mouse skin by All-trans-retinoic acid, a RAR agonist but not by SR11237, a RXR-selective agonist.

We evaluated SR11237, a retinoid X receptor (RXR)-specific compound, for its pharmacologic effects on cell differentiation in F9 embryonal carcinoma cells and rhino mouse epidermis. SR11237 can cause RXR/RXR homodimers to form and transactivate a reporter gene containing a RXR-response element. We confirmed, using nuclear receptor co-transfection assays in COS-1 cells, that SR11237 is effective at transactivating a chloramphenicol acetyltransferase reporter gene through RXRs but not retinoic acid receptors. When SR11237 was tested for its ability to modulate cell differentiation, it was inactive on F9 embryonal carcinoma cells and rhino mouse skin. Because differentiation in these systems is known to be regulated by RAR-specific compounds, such as all-trans-retinoic acid and (E)-4-[2-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-5,5,8,8-tetramethyl-2-naphthalenyl)-1-prope nyl benzoic acid], our results with SR11237 are compatible with the concept that classical retinoid pleiotropic responses are mediated by RXR/RAR heterodimeric nuclear receptors rather than through RXR/RXR homodimers.