Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma and atherosclerosis.
Within the past couple of years, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma), a nuclear transcription factor expressed in vascular cells, has received growing interest in vascular biology and atherosclerosis research. Initially, PPARgamma was identified as a regulator of gene expression in lipid metabolism and adipogenesis, but recent data in monocyte/macrophages, endothelial cells, and vascular smooth muscle cells suggest that PPARgamma might have anti-inflammatory effects in atherogenesis. However, with growing insight, there is much controversy about potential anti- or proatherosclerotic effects. This review will focus on these aspects and discuss what PPARgamma activation in vascular cells could mean for atherogenesis and the development of atherosclerosis.
Marx
Nikolaus
N
Department of Internal Medicine II-Cardiology, University of Ulm, Robert-Koch-Str. 8, D-89081 Ulm, Germany. nikolaus.marx@medizin.uni-ulm.de
D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D014157:Transcription Factors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha