title: PPAR expression and function during vertebrate development.
abstract: The peroxisome proliferator activated receptors (PPARs) are ligand activated receptors which belong to the nuclear hormone receptor family. As with other members of this superfamily, it is thought that the ability of PPAR to bind to a ligand was acquired during metazoan evolution. Three different PPAR isotypes (PPARalpha, PPARbeta, also called 6, and PPARgamma) have been identified in various species. Upon binding to an activator, these receptors stimulate the expression of target genes implicated in important metabolic pathways. The present article is a review of PPAR expression and involvement in some aspects of Xenopus laevis and rodent embryonic development. PPARalpha and beta are ubiquitously expressed in Xenopus early embryos but become more tissue restricted later in development. In rodents, PPARalpha, PPARbeta and PPARgamma show specific time- and tissue-dependent patterns of expression during fetal development and in the adult animals. PPARs are implicated in several aspects of tissue differentiation and rodent development, such as differentiation of the adipose tissue, brain, placenta and skin. Particular attention is given to studies undertaken by us and others on the implication of PPARalpha and beta in rodent epidermal differentiation.
authors.affiliation: Institut de Biologie Animale, Université de Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Liliane
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Michalik
authors.forename: Béatrice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Desvergne
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dreyer
authors.forename: Mathilde
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gavillet
authors.forename: Ricardo N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Laurini
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wahli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D010920:Placenta / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000502:physiology; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000502:physiology; D015533:Transcriptional Activation; D014982:Xenopus laevis
chemical_list: D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D014157:Transcription Factors