VARA

VARA is an experimental combination of vitamin A metabolites consisting of retinyl palmitate (a storage form of vitamin A) and all-trans-retinoic acid (tRA). In the studied formulation, it is prepared as a mixture where tRA represents 10% of the retinol equivalent provided by retinyl palmitate (specifically 11.2 mg/kg retinyl palmitate mixed with 0.6 mg/kg tRA). Developed for research purposes, particularly in the context of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), VARA is used to investigate the complex and sometimes paradoxical effects of vitamin A on autoimmune pathogenesis. While retinoids like tRA are known to have anti-inflammatory properties and can ameliorate lupus nephritis, research indicates that the VARA combination may exacerbate neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration in lupus-prone MRL/lpr mice, leading to increased brain weight, astrogliosis, and immune complex deposition in the central nervous system.

Other names

retinyl palmitate + all-trans-retinoic acidVitamin A + Retinoic Acidretinol + tRA mixture