vitamin a deficiency/protease

Although xerophthalmia due to severe vitamin A deficiency is the leading cause of childhood blindness in the underdeveloped countries, little is known about the proteases (other than collagenase) that are involved in the degradative mechanism. The degree of cellular autolysis and stromal degradation

Retinol binding protein (RBP) is the plasma transport protein of retinol. Mobilization of RBP from the liver stores is stimulated by retinol. During vitamin A deficiency, RBP secretion is specifically inhibited while its rate of biosynthesis is unaffected. As a consequence, RBP, as apoprotein,

Stimulated by retinoic acid 8 (Stra8), one of genes induced by retinoic acid (RA), is required for the meiotic initiation of male spermatogenesis. The present study found that Stra8 inhibited apoptosis in male Stra8‑knockout mice, and in mice with vitamin A deficiency and vitamin A recovery in vivo.