Retinoid X Receptor Heterodimers in the Metabolic Syndrome

The principal abnormalities of the metabolic syndrome are abdominal obesity, atherogenic dyslipidemia, hypertension, insulin resistance, inflammation, and prothrombotic states. This review focuses on the retinoid X receptor (RXR) and its partners in the metabolic syndrome. RXR and its partners are nuclear receptors that function as ligand-dependent transcription factors. The ligands are lipids, and the system functions as a cellular lipid sensor. Agonists and inhibitors of these receptors are promising treatments for this widespread syndrome. This review focuses on the retinoid X receptor (RXR) and its partners in the metabolic syndrome. Agonists and inhibitors of these receptors are promising treatments for this widespread syndrome. The metabolic syndrome, also known as syndrome X, is characterized by abdominal obesity, atherogenic dyslipidemia, hypertension, insulin resistance, inflammation, and prothrombotic states. 1 Diagnostic of the metabolic syndrome are abnormalities in three or more of the clinical criteria of the Adult Treatment Panel III of the National Cholesterol Education Program, which include the following: a waist circumference of more than 102 cm in men and more than 88 cm in women; a triglyceride level of 150 mg per deciliter or more; a level of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol of less than 40 mg per deciliter in men and less than 50 . . .