The Effect of PPARs on Coronary Heart Disease

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are members of the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily. PPARs play an important role in biological functions including lipid metabolism, inflammatory signaling, insulin sensitivity, and cell proliferation/differentiation. Growing evidence points to a causative relationship between PPARs and coronary heart disease (CHD). It is known that PPAR activators improve key surrogate markers of the atherosclerotic process and significantly lower the incidence of cardiovascular events by reducing circulation inflammatory status. Although PPAR activators are beneficial for the treatment of dyslipidemia and insulin sensitivity, it has been noted that there are some limitations in a population prone to congestive heart failure (CHF). There are increasing challenges of the cardiovascular safety associated with PPAR activators treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). A better understanding of diverse range of physiological and metabolic processes and the relationship among inflammation, atherosclerosis, and PPARs may be helpful in elucidating more preventive avenues to manage CHD