PURPOSE The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-gamma) is the target of the insulin sensitizing thiazolidinediones (TZDs), a class of drugs used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Glaucoma and other retinal disorders are some of the major complications in diabetes. In the present study, the role that PPAR-gamma ligands play in protecting retinal ganglion cells (RGC...

To determine whether homocysteine (Hcy)-mediated activation of endocardial endothelial (EE) cells is ameliorated by peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR), we isolated EE cells from mouse endocardium. Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity and intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 in EE cells were measured in the presence and absence of Hcy, and ciprofibrate (CF; PPAR-alpha agoni...

Recent studies have found that cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) protein expression was low and inducible with cytokines in prostate cancer cells (in the absence of serum) and that, in contrast, COX-2 expression was high in normal prostate epithelial cells (EC). Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-gamma) was expressed at high levels in the prostate cancer cell line PC-3 but not in ECs...

Recent epidemiological studies and animal experiments have demonstrated that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) reduce the incidence of colorectal carcinoma. Cyclooxygenase (COX) is the principal target of NSAIDs. COX is the first oxidase in the process of prostaglandin production from arachidonic acid. COX enzyme may be involved in the initiation and/or the promotion of carcinogenes...

The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) gamma is one member of the nuclear receptor superfamily that contains in excess of 80 described receptors. PPARgamma activators are a diverse group of agents that range from endogenous fatty acids or derivatives (linolenic, linoleic, and 15-deoxy-Delta(12,14)-prostaglandin J(2)) to Food and Drug Administration-approved thiazolidinedione drug...

In the 60% pancreatectomy (Px) rat model of beta-cell adaptation, normoglycemia is maintained by an initial week of beta-cell hyperplasia that ceases and is followed by enhanced beta-cell function. It is unknown how this complex series of events is regulated. We studied isolated islets and pancreas sections from 14-day post-Px versus sham-operated rats and observed a doubling of beta-cell nucle...

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are a family of ligand-activated transcription factors that include PPAR-alpha, PPAR-gamma, and PPAR-delta. We hypothesized that PPAR expression in blood vessels could be reduced in hypertension to result in increased vascular growth and reduced apoptosis. We investigated the abundance of PPAR-alpha and PPAR-gamma in aorta and mesenteric arter...

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors belong to the superfamily of ligand-dependent nuclear receptor transcription factors, which include three subtypes: PPAR-alpha, beta/delta, and gamma. PPAR-delta, play important roles in the regulation of cell growth and differentiation as well as tissue wound and repair. Emerging evidence has also demonstrated that PPAR-delta is implicated in lipids ...

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is a dietary fatty acid that has received considerable attention due to its unique properties in rodent models including anti-cancer, anti-atherogenic and anti-diabetic effects. The effects of CLA are similar to those seen with ligands for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPARs), most notably of the PPAR gamma subtype. With the recent observation of a r...

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors-gamma (PPAR-gamma) is critical for phenotype determination at early differentiation stages of mesenchymal cells, whereas its physiological role is unclear. Therefore, we investigated the role of 15-deoxy-Delta(12,14)-prostaglandinJ2 (15d-PGJ2), the natural receptor ligand for PPAR-gamma, on dedifferentiation and inflammatory responses, such as COX-2 e...