Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-g (PPARg), a member of the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily, plays an essential role in the mediation of the actions of antidiabetic drugs known as thiazolidinediones (TZDs). PPARg activates many target genes involved in lipid anabolism including the adipocyte fatty acid binding protein (aP2). In this study, induction of aP2 gene expression by PPAR...

In this issue of Blood, Jun et al, through the study of neutrophils deficient in the glucose-6-phosphate transporter, describe a novel role for the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARG) pathway in the regulation of key neutrophil functions and link this to concomitant hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) 1α stabilization.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of polymorphisms of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARG) gene and peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor gamma co-activator 1 alpha (PPARGC1A) gene with diabetic nephropathy (DN) in Asian Indians. METHODS Six common polymorphisms, 3 of the PPARG gene [-1279G/A, Pro12Ala, and His478His (C/T)] and 3 of...

Preterm infants show abnormal structural and functional brain development, and have a high risk of long-term neurocognitive problems. The molecular and cellular mechanisms involved are poorly understood, but novel methods now make it possible to address them by examining the relationship between common genetic variability and brain endophenotype. We addressed the hypothesis that variability in ...

Epigenetic control of gene expression in children remains poorly understood, but new technologies can help elucidate the relationship between expression and DNA methylation. Here, we utilized the nCounter Analysis System to characterise the expression of 60 genes in 69 9-year-old children from a cohort with a high prevalence of obesity. nCounter expression levels ranged broadly (from 3 to over ...

Endothelin-1 (ET-1), a 21-amino acid vasoactive peptide mainly produced by vascular endothelial cells, is involved in the regulation of vascular tone and smooth muscle cell proliferation. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs), key players in lipid and glucose metabolism, have been implicated in metabolic disorders that are predisposing to atherosclerosis. Because of the potential ...

Nutrient restriction (NR) during critical windows of pregnancy has differential effects on placento-fetal growth and development. Our study, therefore, investigated developmental and metabolic adaptations within the ovine placenta following NR at different critical windows during the first 110 days of gestation (termZ147 days). Thus, the effects of NR on cell proliferation, glucocorticoid sensi...

Genistein aglycone, a soy derived isoflavone, has been demonstrated to be effective in reducing cardiovascular risk in postmenopausal women. We therefore investigated its effects in an experimental model of postmenopausal metabolic syndrome. Female spontaneously hypertensive obese rats (SHROB, n=40), a genetic model of syndrome X, and age-matched Wistar Kyoto (WKY, n=40) rats were used. A group...