Retinoid X receptor alpha, beta, and gamma (RXR-alpha, RXR-beta, RXR-gamma (collectively, RXR; also known as NR2B1, NR2B2, NR2B3 for alpha, beta, gamma respectively))

Retinoid X receptors alpha, beta, and gamma are intracellular nuclear hormone receptors activated mainly by 9-cis retinoic acid and related ligands. They regulate gene expression by binding specific DNA response elements in promoters as homo- or heterodimers (notably with retinoic acid receptor, PPAR, VDR, TR, LXR, FXR, CAR, ER). RXRs play pivotal roles in cell differentiation, proliferation, lipid and glucose metabolism, and serve as therapeutic targets for certain cancers, neurodegenerative, skin, and metabolic diseases. Clinically, RXR agonists such as bexarotene are used for cancer and may yield side effects due to the widespread regulatory roles of all three RXR isotypes. RXRs also function as key partners in heterodimerization with other nuclear receptors, making them central integrators at crossroads of multiple hormonal and metabolic pathways

Other names

RXR-alpha, NR2B1RXR-beta, NR2B2RXR-gamma, NR2B3Retinoid X receptor (generic/collective name)Nuclear receptor subfamily 2, group B, member 1/2/3

Agonists such as bexarotene and 9-cis retinoic acid bind the ligand-binding domain, promoting dissociation of corepressors and recruitment of coactivators, enabling RXR to regulate transcription of target genes via dimerization (homo- or heterodimers with other nuclear receptors including RAR, PPAR, VDR, TR, LXR, FXR, CAR, ER)