PPARg: from adipose tissue to the atherosclerotic plaque

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are ligand-dependent transcription factors of the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily, which includes among others the receptors for steroids, retinoids and thyroid hormone. These nuclear receptors are characterized by their ability to bind to specific DNA sequences and regulate gene expression when activated by a ligand. The PPAR subfamily comprises three isoforms desig-nated PPARa, PPARb and PPARg. The PPARa subtype is activated by hypolipidemic drugs (fibrates), long-chain fatty acids, arachidonic acid and leukotriene B4, and it is mostly expressed in the liver, intestine, kidney and brown adipose tissue. It increases the production of enzymes involved in the b-oxidation of fatty acids as well as certain apolipoproteins. PPARb, i