ABSTRACT
Obesity is an increasingly prevalent health problem. Since 1995 there has been an explosion of research focosed on the regulation of energy balance and fat mass. Characterization of obesity gene products has revealed new biochemical pathways and molecular targets for pharmacological intervention that will lead to new treatments. We hope these will be viewed as adjuncts to behavioral and lifestyle changes aimed at maintenance of wight loss
Subject(s)
Humans , Anti-Obesity Agents/therapeutic use , Obesity/drug therapy , Appetite Regulation/physiology , Anti-Obesity Agents/metabolism , Body Weight/physiology , Weight LossABSTRACT
Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are lipid-activated transcription factors that belong to the steroid/retinoic acid receptor superfamily. All their characterized target genes encode proteins that participate in lipid homeostasis. The finding that antidiabetic thiazolidinediones and adipogenic prostanoids are ligans of one of the PPARS reveals a novel signaling pathway that directly links these compounds to processes involved in glucose homeostasis and lipid metabolism including adipocyte differentiation. An understanding of this pathway could designate PPARs as targets for the development and efficient treatments for several metabolic disorders