A novel synthetic vitamin-A-like compound (a polyprenoic acid derivative: E-5166) inhibits UVB-stimulated epidermal ornithine decarboxylase activity.

Irradiation of skin with ultraviolet B (UVB) stimulates epidermal activity of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), a rate limiting polyamine biosynthesing enzyme. The maximum stimulation of ODC activity by UVB was found at 24 after irradiation. Systemic administration of a polyprenoic acid derivative (E-5166) significantly inhibited the UVB-stimulated ODC activity in a dose-dependent manner. The inhibitory effect of E-5166 on the UVB-stimulated ODC activity was found to begin at 5 mg/kg body weight. These results indicate that because it inhibits ODC activity E-5166 can be utilized for the treatment of hyperproliferative skin diseases.