Tazarotene induces the expression of tazarotene-induced gene 3 (TIG3), a tumor suppressor gene. It is a prodrug of tazarotenic acid, which specifically activates RARb and RARg, only weakly activates RARa, and is inactive at retinoid X receptors (RXRs). In psoriasis, tazarotene normalizes abnormal keratinocyte differentiation and reduces their hyperproliferation.
