Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-gamma is required for adipogenesis but is also found in the cardiovascular system, where it has been proposed to oppose inflammatory pathways and act as a growth suppressor. PPAR-gamma agonists, thiazolidinediones (TZDs), inhibit cardiomyocyte growth in vitro and in pressure overload models. Paradoxically, TZDs also induce cardiac hypertrophy in...

BACKGROUND Studies have shown that peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-gamma) agonists could ameliorate renal fibrotic lesions in both diabetic nephropathy and nondiabetic chronic kidney diseases. In order to elucidate the antifibrotic mechanism of PPAR-gamma agonists, we investigated the effects of PPAR-gamma activation on TGF-beta1-induced renal interstitial fibroblasts. ...

Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) production and cytolytic activity are 2 major biologic functions of natural killer (NK) cells that are important for innate immunity. We demonstrate here that these functions are compromised in human NK cells treated with peroxisome proliferator-activated-gamma (PPAR-gamma) ligands via both PPAR-gamma-dependent and -independent pathways due to variation in PPAR-gamm...

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...

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-gamma) is a ligand-activated transcription factor and plays an important role in growth, differentiation, and inflammation in different tissues. In this study, we investigated the effects of 15d-PGJ(2), a high-affinity ligand of PPAR-gamma, on dedifferentiation and on inflammatory responses such as COX-2 expression and PGE(2) production in ...

Uncoupling protein (UCP) is expressed only in brown adipocytes and is responsible for the unique thermogenic properties of this cell type. The novel brown preadipocyte cell line, HIB-1B, expresses UCP in a strictly differentiation-dependent manner. Transgenic mice studies have shown that a region from kb -2.8 to -1.0 of the marine UCP gene is required for brown adipocyte-specific expression. Su...

BACKGROUND We have previously demonstrated a glomerulo-tubular 'crosstalk' operating in the pathogenesis of tubulointerstitial injury in IgA nephropathy (IgAN). The present study aims to explore any possible beneficial effect of a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-gamma) agonist in alleviating the tubulointerstitial inflammation in IgAN. METHODS Human proximal tubular epi...

Objective(s): This study aimed to investigate the glucose and lipid metabolism improving effect of the total flavonoids from Selaginella tamariscina (Beauv.) Spring (TFST) on db/db mice, and to study its mechanism of action.Materials and Methods: The db/db mice were divided into 5 groups: the normal group (NC), the diabetic group (DM), t...

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-gamma) is a ligand-dependent transcription factor that plays an important role in the regulation of insulin sensitivity and lipid metabolism. Evidence shows that PPAR-gamma agonists also ameliorate renal fibrotic lesions in both diabetic nephropathy and nondiabetic chronic kidney disease. However, little is known about the mechanism underly...