Recent advances in the design, development and therapeutic applications of PPARγ agonists

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) is a ligand-dependent transcription factor that regulates the expressions of a variety of target genes related to glucose homeostasis. It has been recognized that PPARγ is a druggable target in modern drug discovery. In this review, the design of synthetic PPARγ agonists, and the development of synthetic PPARγ agonists of diverse scaffolds including thiazolidinediones (TZDs) and non-TZDs were illustrated. In addition, the recent advances and the therapeutic applications of reported synthetic PPARγ agonists were discussed including type 2 diabetes (T2DM), liver and inflammatory diseases, cancer, and neurological disorders within the past ten years using cellular and animal models and clinical studies. Our aim is to promote PPARγ agonists as a promising breakthrough point for addressing the therapy of different human disorders by inspiring additional scientific communities.