Retinol dehydrogenase with a clear preference for NADP. Displays high activity towards 9-cis, 11-cis and all-trans-retinol, and to a lesser extent on 13-cis-retinol (PubMed:12226107, PubMed:12036956, PubMed:29410696). Exhibits a low reductive activity towards unsaturated medium-chain aldehydes such as cis -6-nonenal and no activity toward nonanal or 4-hydroxy-nonenal (PubMed:15865448). Has no dehydrogenase activity towards steroid (PubMed:12226107, PubMed:12036956). all-trans-retinol + NADP(+) = all-trans-retinal + H(+) + NADPH 11-cis-retinol + NADP(+) = 11-cis-retinal + H(+) + NADPH 9-cis-retinol + NADP(+) = 9-cis-retinal + H(+) + NADPH 13-cis-retinol + NADP(+) = 13-cis-retinal + H(+) + NADPH SELENOF decreases the retinol dehydrogenase activity. Vmax is measured per mg microsomal protein. Cofactor metabolism; retinol metabolism. Interacts with SELENOF. Predominantly expressed in the epithelial cells of prostate, in both basal and luminal secretory cell populations. Expressed at low levels in spleen, thymus, testis, ovary, small intestine, colon, peripherical blood leukocytes, kidney, adrenal gland and fetal liver. Not detected in prostatic fibromuscular stromal cells, endothelial cells, or infiltrating lymphocytes. By androgens in prostate cancer cells. Not glycosylated. The disease is caused by variants affecting the gene represented in this entry. Shows clear specificity for the pro-S hydrogen on C4 of NADPH and the pro-R hydrogen on C15 of retinols. Belongs to the short-chain dehydrogenases/reductases (SDR) family. In contrast to mouse, human RDH11 exhibits little or no activity towards toxic lipid peroxidation products, such as nonanal or 4-hydroxy-nonenal.