Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma activity is associated with renal microvasculature

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR gamma) is a nuclear transcription factor and the pharmacological target for antidiabetic thiazolidinediones (TZDs). TZDs ameliorate diabetic nephropathy and have direct effects on cultured mesangial cells (MCs); however, in situ hybridization failed to detect expression of PPAR gamma in glomeruli in vivo. The purpose of this study was to determine whether PPAR gamma is expressed in renal glomeruli. Two rabbit PPAR gamma isoforms were cloned. Nuclease protection assays demonstrate that both PPAR gamma isoforms are expressed in freshly isolated glomeruli. Treatment of rabbits with the TZD troglitazone selectively induced expression of an endogenous PPAR gamma target gene, adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein (A-FABP), in renal glomerular cells and renal medullary microvascular endothelial cells, demonstrated by both in situ hybridization and immunostain. Troglitazone also dramatically increased A-FABP expression in cultured MCs. Constitutive PPAR gamma expression was detected in cultured rabbit MCs. Endogenous MC PPAR gamma can also drive PPAR gamma reporter. Troglitazone and 15-deoxy-Delta 12,14 prostaglandin J(2) at low concentrations reduced mesangial cell [(3)H]thymidine incorporation without affecting viability. These data suggest that constitutive PPAR gamma activity exists in renal glomeruli in vivo and could provide a pharmacological target to directly modulate glomerular injury.