Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are members of the ligand-activated nuclear hormone receptor superfamily of transcription factors that includes receptors for steroids, thyroid hormone, retinoic acid, and vitamin D. Upon activation in the cytoplasm, PPARs heterodimerize with retinoid X receptors (RXR) and form a complex that translocates to the nucleus and regulates gene expr...

The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) belong to the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily. All PPARs heterodimerize with the retinoid X receptor (RXR) and bind to specific regions on the DNA of target genes. The discovery of PPARγ as a target of multimodal insulin sensitizers has attracted remarkable scientific interest and had a great impact on the pharmaceutical industry. Thi...

The guinea pig does not undergo peroxisome proliferation in response to peroxisome proliferators, in contrast with other rodents. To understand the molecular basis of this phenotype, the peroxisome proliferator activated receptor alpha (PPARalpha) from guinea-pig liver was cloned; it encodes a protein of 467 amino acid residues that is similar to rodent and human PPARalpha. The guinea-pig PPARa...

Peroxisome proliferators, such as lipid-lowering fibrate drugs, are agonists for the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARalpha). Sustained activation of PPARalpha leads to the development of liver tumors in rodents. Paradoxically, humans appear to be resistant to the induction of peroxisome proliferation and development of liver tumors by peroxisome proliferators. To examine t...

In this review, the role of NF-kappaB in the induction of hepatocarcinogenesis by peroxisome proliferators is examined. The administration of peroxisome proliferators for more than a three-day period leads to the activation of NF-kappaB in the livers of rats and mice. On the other hand, peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-alpha (PPARalpha) activation in non-hepatic tissues can lead to th...

Peroxisome proliferator activated receptor(alpha) (PPARalpha) mediates the liver's responses to peroxisome proliferator compounds. These responses include induction of specific hepatic enzymes, peroxisome proliferation and hepatocyte proliferation. PPARalpha null mice, which lack receptor in all cells of the body, do not respond to peroxisome proliferators, indicating that hepatocellular prolif...

Extrapulmonary pathology significantly impairs clinical outcome in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are implicated in the regulation of several hallmarks of systemic COPD pathology, including cachexia, decreased oxidative muscle metabolism, oxidative stress and systemic inflammation. Recently, expression of PPARs and related c...