PPAR delta status and Apc-mediated tumourigenesis in the mouse intestine

Based on recent reports that peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor delta (PPARdelta) activation promotes tumourigenesis, we have investigated the role of this protein in Apc-mediated intestinal tumourigenesis. We demonstrate that the inactivation of Apc in the adult small intestine, while causing the expected nuclear accumulation of beta-catenin, does not cause the expected increase in PPARdelta mRNA or protein but conversely, the levels of PPARdelta mRNA and protein are lowered. Furthermore, we find that Apc(Min)PPARdelta-null mice exhibit an increased predisposition to intestinal tumourigenesis. Our data suggest that PPARdelta is not directly regulated by beta-catenin, and that inhibition of PPARdelta activity is unlikely to be an appropriate strategy for the chemoprevention or chemotherapy of intestinal malignancies