Bcr is a serine/threonine kinase activated by platelet-derived growth factor that is highly expressed in the neointima after vascular injury. Here, we demonstrate that Bcr is an important mediator of angiotensin (Ang) II and platelet-derived growth factor–mediated inflammatory responses in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Among transcription factors that might regulate Ang II–mediated infl...

Although the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) has been implicated in the wound healing process, its exact role and mechanism of action have not been fully elucidated. Our previous findings showed that PPAR induces the expression of the transforming growth factor (TGF)1, which has been implicated in the deposit of extracellular matrix proteins. Here, we demonstrate that administ...

Lipid phosphate phosphohydrolase 1 (LPP1), a membrane ectophosphohydrolase regulating the availability of bioactive lipid phosphates, plays important roles in cellular signaling and physiological processes such as angiogenesis and endothelial migration. However, the regulated expression of LPP1 remains largely unknown. Here, we aimed to examine a role of peroxisome proliferator-activated recept...

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-gamma) is a member of the nuclear receptor (NR) superfamily of ligand-activated transcriptional factors. Among other functions, PPAR-gamma acts as a key regulator of the adipogenesis. Since several cytokines (IL-1, TNF-alpha, TGF-beta) had been known to inhibit adipocyte differentiation in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), we examined the effe...

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR ) is a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily that acts as a key player in adipocyte differentiation, glucose metabolism, and macrophage differentiation. Osteopontin (OPN), a component of extracellular matrix, is elevated during neointimal formation in the vessel wall and is synthesized by macrophages in atherosclerotic plaques. In the presen...

Cerulein-induced pancreatitis is similar to human edematous pancreatitis, characterized by the dysregulation of digestive enzyme production, edema formation, and an infiltration of inflammatory cells into the pancreas. We previously showed that the Janus kinase 2 (JAK2)/STAT3 pathway mediates inflammatory signaling in cerulein-stimulated pancreatic acinar cells. PPAR-γ has been implicated in th...

A cell-based transactivation assay was established using the mouse full-length peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) cDNA sequence and the positive peroxisome proliferator-responsive regulatory element (-578 to -553) of the rat acyl-CoA oxidase gene promoter. Activation of the reporter plasmid was dependent on co-transfection of the full-length PPAR cDNA, and the response was greatl...

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-γ is expressed in alveolar macrophages. The anti-inflammatory potential of the PPAR-γ ligands rosiglitazone and pioglitazone were investigated using in vitro alveolar macrophage models and in vivo animal models relevant to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). PPAR-γ protein and gene expression in COPD alveolar macrophages was compared w...

The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR ) ligands have anticancer activity against a wide variety of neoplastic cells in vitro. Animal studies have chronicled their in vivo anticancer effects and chemopreventive capabilities. In addition, moderate anticancer activities of PPAR ligands with minimal toxicities have been observed in patients with liposarcomas and prostate cancers. The...

Thiazolidinediones (TZDs) reduce insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes by increasing peripheral uptake of glucose, and they bind to and activate the transcriptional factor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-gamma). Studies have suggested that TZD-induced activation of PPAR-gamma correlates with antidiabetic action, but the mechanism by which the activated PPAR-gamma is invol...