PEROXISOME PROLIFERATOR-ACTIVATED RECEPTOR (PPAR)-GAMMA - ADIPOSE-PREDOMINANT EXPRESSION AND INDUCTION EARLY IN ADIPOCYTE DIFFERENTIATION

Activators of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR) regula te fatty acid metabolism and can induce adipocyte differentiation. We show here that the gamma subtype of PPAR is expressed at high levels i n adipose tissue in contrast to a variety of other tissues, where litt le gene expression was noted. In addition, PPAR gamma is present at lo w levels in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and is induced dramatically during ad ipocyte conversion using either normal differentiating conditions (fet al calf serum, dexamethasone, isobutylmethylxanthine, and insulin) or the PPAR activator, WY-14,643. Thus PPAR gamma may be important for ad ipose cell development and function.