title: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma agonists: their role as vasoprotective agents in diabetes.
abstract: Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes melitius are associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity, and now affect more than 170 million individuals worldwide. The incidence of type 2 diabetes is growing rapidly and now accounts for 90 to 95 percent of all diabetes cases. Thiazolidinediones (TZDs) a class of insulin sensitizing agents commonly used in the treatment of patients who have type 2 diabetes, improve endothelial dysfunction and exert beneficial effects on lipid profiles by activating the nuclear receptor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-gamma). In addition, TZDs exhibit antiatherogenic effects, independent of their antidiabetic and lipid-lowering properties, by attenuating proinflammatory processes. The combination of increased insulin sensitivity, improved lipid profile, and reduced inflammation may explain the cardiovascular benefits of this class of drugs
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Blaschke
authors.forename: Evren
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Caglayan
authors.forename: Willa A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Hsueh
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D050197:Atherosclerosis; D023903:Coronary Restenosis; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000150:complications; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007249:Inflammation; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications; D047495:PPAR gamma / Q000819:agonists* / Q000502:physiology; D045162:Thiazolidinediones / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D047495:PPAR gamma; D045162:Thiazolidinediones