PPAR and insulin resistance / 中国药理学通报

ABSTRACT

Peroxisome proliferator activated receptor(PPAR), a member of the hormone receptor superfamily, is a key regulating factor in adipocyte differentiation and lipids metabolism. Recently, with the increased understanding of the precise mechanisms of TZD, thiazolidinedione class of insulin sensitizer, PPAR? has also been identified as the major functional receptor for the drugs. In the study of the relationship between PPAR and insulin resistance, considerable gaps appeared. TZD induced activation of PPAR? is known to promote insulin sensitivity. More interestingly, however, PPAR? +/- heterozygous mice were shown to be less susceptible to insulin resistance. These findings suggest that the relationship between PPAR activation and insulin sensitivity improvement is not simplely positively related. A better understanding of the role of PPAR in insulin action system will be critical in developing more efficacious and safe agents that act on PPAR and benefit patients with type 2 diabetes.