Trends in Pharmacological Sciences
PPARs: therapeutic targets for metabolic disease
Section snippets
Nuclear receptor targets for the treatment of metabolic disorders
The three peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) subtypes, PPAR-γ, PPAR-α and PPAR-δ (also known as PPAR-β), constitute a subfamily of nuclear receptors [1]. These lipid sensors are ‘master’ transcriptional regulators of nutrient metabolism and energy homeostasis that modulate the expression of unique constellations of genes. PPARs form obligate heterodimers with another nuclear receptor, the retinoid X receptor, which bind to peroxisome proliferator response elements (PPREs) that
Adipocytes
PPAR-γ is present in high concentrations in adipocytes [5]. Seminal studies in vitro have demonstrated that this receptor is both necessary and sufficient for adipocyte differentiation, and that it promotes lipid accumulation by adipocytes [6]. The importance of PPAR-γ in adipocyte biology is underscored further by studies in vivo in which adipose-specific ablation of PPAR-γ expression in mice results in adipocyte hypocellularity [7], and heterozygous PPAR-γ knockout mice have reduced adiposity
Lipid metabolism
PPAR-α is expressed highly in liver, heart and skeletal muscle, tissues that extract a high level of their energy requirements from lipids. [50]. During prolonged fasting that results in hypoglycemia, fatty acids are released from fat depots and travel to the liver where they are taken up, oxidized and metabolized into ketone bodies to provide fuel for peripheral tissues. The crucial role of PPAR-α in mediating these metabolic processes and, ultimately, energy homeostasis is demonstrated by the
Pharmacology
Because of its ubiquitous expression and the paucity of selective ligands, PPAR-δ is the least understood PPAR subtype. Nevertheless, early PPAR-δ-selective agonists were found to elevate HDL-C levels in diabetic mice [69], a seminal observation that indicated that PPAR-δ ligands might have beneficial effects on dyslipidemia. Subsequently, the potent PPAR-δ agonist GW501516 (see Chemical names) was shown to increase HDL-C while decreasing elevated TG and insulin levels in obese rhesus monkeys
Selective PPAR-γ modulators
Although the TZDs rosiglitazone and pioglitazone, which are full agonists of PPAR-γ, have significant clinical anti-diabetic efficacy, their use is associated with adverse events including plasma-volume expansion, hemodilution, edema, increased adiposity and weight gain [74]. In addition, TZDs induce cardiomegaly (cardiac enlargement) in some preclinical species 75, 76. These undesirable effects, and the potential to cause congestive heart failure in the considerable subset of diabetic patients
PPAR-α/γ dual agonists and PPAR-α/γ/δ pan agonists
Generally, T2DM patients suffer from both hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia. Clinical studies implicate hyperglycemia in the onset of microangiopathic complications of T2DM, including kidney failure, retinopathy and peripheral neuropathy. However, the major cause of mortality in T2DM patients is atherosclerotic macrovascular disease, which culminates in myocardial infarction. Such cardiovascular disease appears to result, in large part, from diabetic dyslipidemia. Regrettably, although currently
Concluding remarks
The ability of PPARs to mediate many metabolic and therapeutic actions have made them a central focus of pharmacological and genetic research for more than a decade. Through this effort, the PPARs have been shown to coordinately regulate the expression of a vast array of genes including those that control nutrient metabolism, energy homeostasis, insulin signaling, inflammation and cell differentiation. In the clinic, PPAR-γ agonists are effective in treating T2DM patients, and PPAR-α agonists
References (87)
PPARs and the complex journey to obesity
Nat. Med.
(2004)The organization, promoter analysis, and expression of the human PPARgamma gene
J. Biol. Chem.
(1997)Stimulation of adipogenesis in fibroblasts by PPARγ2, a lipid activated transcription factor
Cell
(1994)PPAR gamma is required for placental, cardiac, and adipose tissue development
Mol. Cell
(1999)PPARγ mediates high fat diet-induced adipocyte hypertrophy and insulin resistance
Mol. Cell
(1999)PPAR gamma is required for the differentiation of adipose tissue in vivo and in vitro
Mol. Cell
(1999)- et al.
Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma in diabetes and metabolism
Trends Pharmacol. Sci.
(2004) Effects of troglitazone on fat distribution in the treatment of male type 2 diabetes
Metabolism
(1999)Effect of thiazolidinediones on glucose and fatty acid metabolism in patients with type 2 diabetes
Metabolism
(2003)A PPAR gamma-LXR-ABCA1 pathway in macrophages is involved in cholesterol efflux and atherogenesis
Mol. Cell
(2001)