title: PPAR-γ -- a possible drug target for complicated pregnancies.
abstract: Peroxisome proliferator activated receptors (PPARs) are ligand-activated transcription factors expressed in trophoblasts, which regulate both cell differentiation and proliferation. In recent years, evidence has linked PPARs to playing an integral role in pregnancy; specifically, PPAR-β and PPAR-γ have been shown to play an integral role in placentation, with PPAR-γ additionally serving to regulate trophoblast differentiation. Recent evidence has shown that PPAR-γ expression is altered in many complications of pregnancy such as intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), preterm birth, pre-clampsia and gestational diabetes. Thus, at present, accumulating evidence from the literature suggests both a pivotal role for PPAR-γ in the progression of a healthy pregnancy and the possibility that PPAR-γ may act as a therapeutic target in complicated pregnancies. This review aims to provide a succinct and comprehensive assessment of the role of PPAR-γ in normal pregnancy and pregnancy complications, and finally its potential as a therapeutic target in the treatment and/or prevention of adverse pregnancy outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Anu Research Centre, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: Fergus P
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: McCarthy
authors.forename: Aoife C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Delany
authors.forename: Louise C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Kenny
authors.forename: Sarah K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Walsh
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D047495:PPAR gamma / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000378:metabolism*; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D047495:PPAR gamma