title: PPAR agonists in the treatment of atherosclerosis.
abstract: Current treatment for atherosclerotic heart disease consists mainly of the administration of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors or 'statin' class of drugs. Statins, which lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and have numerous other effects in the arterial wall, have shown remarkable efficacy and an exemplary safety profile in preventing both primary and secondary atherosclerotic events. These agents, however, are less effective at raising high-density lipoprotein, lowering triglycerides and decreasing insulin resistance--all of which are important targets for the prevention of ischemic vascular disease. Agonists of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are among the most promising drug candidates to target these treatment gaps. Only PPARalpha agonists have been shown clinically to improve the outcome of atherosclerotic heart disease; however, it will only be a matter of time before we know whether compounds that modulate the function of PPARgamma and beta/delta are also efficacious at combating atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: CIHR Group on Molecular and Cell Biology of Lipids, Departments of Medicine and Biochemistry, 328 HMRC, University of Alberta, AB T6G 2S2, Edmonton, Canada. gordon.francis@ualberta.ca
authors.forename: Gordon A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Francis
authors.forename: Jean-Sébastien
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Annicotte
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Auwerx
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008830:Microbodies / Q000378:metabolism*; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000819:agonists* / Q000502:physiology; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000819:agonists* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D014157:Transcription Factors