Editorial: Important Roles of PPAR in Stem Cell Differentiation.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are a group of ligand-dependent nuclear receptors responsible for gene expression regulation and function as transcriptional regulators of adipogenic differentiation and lipid metabolism. Members of PPAR family, especially PPAR gamma, are predominantly expressed in adipose tissue and have been demonstrated as important regulators of stem cell differentiation. Suppression of PPAR function through RNA interference leads to cellular differentiation towards osteoblasts rather than adipocytes in multipotent mesenchymal stem cells, suggesting the central role of PPAR in controlling multipotency in mesenchymal cells. On the other hand, the effects of PPAR-gamma on cancer progression and metastasis have also been studied intensely. More specifically, studies of cancer stem cells indicate that PPAR gamma agonists have the potential to inhibit the canonical WNT signaling pathway that controls the self-renew of cancer stem cells. New advances of PPAR in stem cell differentiation indicate the therapeutic potential of PPAR in treating obesity, regenerating adipose tissue, and suppressing cancer stem cells.