Abstract
The past several years have seen an explosive increase in our understanding of the transcriptional basis of adipose cell differentiation. In particular, a key role has been illustrated for PPAR-gamma, a member of the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily. PPAR-gamma has also been recently identified as the major functional receptor for the thiazolidinedione class of insulin-sensitizing drugs. This review examines the evidence that has implicated this transcription factor in the processes of adipogenesis and systemic insulin action. In addition, several models are discussed that may explain how a single protein can be involved in these related but distinct physiological actions. I also point out several important areas where our knowledge is incomplete and more research is needed. Finally, I discuss how advances in our understanding of nuclear receptor function, particularly the docking of cofactors in a ligand-dependent fashion, should lead to improved drugs that utilize the PPAR-gamma system for the treatment of insulin resistance.
Keywords
AdipogenesisNuclear receptorThiazolidinedionePeroxisome proliferator-activated receptorTranscription factorRegulatorReceptorBiologyInsulin resistanceAdipose tissueCell biologyInsulinEndocrinologyType 2 diabetesGeneticsGeneDiabetes mellitus
Affiliated Institutions
Related Publications
PGC-1-Related Coactivator, a Novel, Serum-Inducible Coactivator of Nuclear Respiratory Factor 1-Dependent Transcription in Mammalian Cells
The thermogenic peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-gamma) coactivator 1 (PGC-1) has previously been shown to activate mitochondrial biogenesis in part throug...
Monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 in obesity and insulin resistance
This study identifies monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) as an insulin-responsive gene. It also shows that insulin induces substantial expression and secretion of MCP-1 ...
Chronic inflammation in fat plays a crucial role in the development of obesity-related insulin resistance
Insulin resistance arises from the inability of insulin to act normally in regulating nutrient metabolism in peripheral tissues. Increasing evidence from human population studie...
Mechanisms of transactivation by retinoic acid receptors
Abstract Retinoids play an important role in development and differentiation (1,2) . Their effect is mediated through nuclear receptors, RAR (α, β and γ) and RXR (α, β and γ), A...
Peroxisome Proliferator-activated Receptor α Negatively Regulates the Vascular Inflammatory Gene Response by Negative Cross-talk with Transcription Factors NF-κB and AP-1
Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a pleiotropic cytokine, whose plasma levels are elevated in inflammatory diseases such as atherosclerosis. We have previously reported that peroxisome pr...
Publication Info
- Year
- 1998
- Type
- review
- Volume
- 47
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 507-514
- Citations
- 1732
- Access
- Closed
External Links
Social Impact
Altmetric
PlumX Metrics
Social media, news, blog, policy document mentions
Citation Metrics
1732
OpenAlex
Cite This
Bruce M. Spiegelman
(1998).
PPAR-gamma: adipogenic regulator and thiazolidinedione receptor..
Diabetes
, 47
(4)
, 507-514.
https://doi.org/10.2337/diabetes.47.4.507
Identifiers
- DOI
- 10.2337/diabetes.47.4.507