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Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma in malignant diseases

Tingting Wang1, Jian Xu, Xiaofei Yu

  • 1State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin, PR China.

Critical Reviews in Oncology/Hematology
|January 4, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-gamma), a nuclear receptor, regulates gene transcription. Its ligands show promise as anti-cancer therapeutics by inhibiting cancer cell growth and promoting apoptosis.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Endocrinology
  • Oncology

Background:

  • Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-gamma) is a nuclear hormone receptor and ligand-activated transcription factor.
  • It exists in multiple mRNA forms (PPAR-gamma1-4) encoding two proteins (PPAR-gamma1-2) with distinct functional domains.
  • Natural and synthetic ligands activate PPAR-gamma, which heterodimerizes with retinoid X receptor (RXR) to bind peroxisome proliferator response elements (PPREs).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the structure, function, and therapeutic potential of PPAR-gamma.
  • To explore the role of PPAR-gamma ligands in regulating gene transcription and cellular processes.
  • To investigate the anti-neoplastic effects of PPAR-gamma in various cancers.

Main Methods:

  • Structural and functional domain analysis of PPAR-gamma.
  • Identification of natural and synthetic PPAR-gamma ligands.
  • Investigation of PPAR-gamma/RXR heterodimerization and DNA binding to PPREs.
  • Evaluation of PPAR-gamma's effects on cancer cell proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation, and angiogenesis.

Main Results:

  • PPAR-gamma activation leads to transcriptional regulation of target genes.
  • Ligands include fatty acids, NSAIDs, and thiazolidinediones.
  • Activated PPAR-gamma inhibits cancer cell proliferation, induces apoptosis and differentiation, and reduces angiogenesis.
  • These effects suggest anti-neoplastic potential in solid tumors and leukemia.

Conclusions:

  • PPAR-gamma is a crucial regulator of cellular processes with significant therapeutic implications.
  • PPAR-gamma ligands demonstrate potent anti-cancer activities.
  • Targeting PPAR-gamma represents a promising novel therapeutic strategy for human malignancies.

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