Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors: new players in the field of reproduction.
Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR) are members of the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily. Synthetic ligands to one family member, PPARgamma, are currently widely used as treatment for chronic diseases such as diabetes type II and other insulin resistances, e.g. as seen in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Moreover, novel approaches employing knock-out mice demonstrated that PPARgamma seems to play a key role in placental and fetal development. This review describes recent insights into the role of PPARs in human reproduction with specific reference to infertility, placental maturation and fetal development as well as disturbed pregnancy. Further, we highlight the current knowledge on synthetic ligands to PPARgamma used as a treatment in women with PCOS.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Grosshadern, Munich, Germany. bettina.toth@med.uni-muenchen.de
Bettina
B
Toth
Daniela
D
Hornung
Christoph
C
Scholz
Schima
S
Djalali
Klaus
K
Friese
Udo
U
Jeschke
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D047492:Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000502:physiology; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology*
D047492:Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear