PPAR-γ: a thrifty transcription factor

The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) is a prototypical metabolic nuclear receptor that acts as a lipid sensor, integrating the homeostatic control of energy, lipid, and glucose metabolism. This perspective will highlight three lines of evidence which place PPAR-γ as a key player in a feed-forward pathway favoring differentiation and energy storage by adipocytes

PPAR-γ induces adipocyte differentiation and genes involved in fat deposition

<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "PPAR-γ: a thrifty transcription factor"</p><p>Nuclear Receptor Signaling 2003;1():-.</p><p>Published online 27 Jun 2003</p><p>PMCID:PMC1402226.</p><p>Copyright © 2003, Auwerx et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Non-Commercial Attribution License, which permits unrestricted non-commercial use distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. </p> Plasma-derived fatty acids are directed to adipose tissue at the expense of skeletal muscle, which increases glucose uptake and utilization in the muscle. Direct effects of PPAR-γ activation have also been observed in liver, including decreased gluconeogenesis and increased fat uptake and storage. Additionally, PPAR-γ activation results in increased cholesterol efflux in macrophages via upregulation of ABCA1, but also increased uptake of proatherogenic oxidized LDL particles via upregulation of CD36