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.