The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR gamma) as a regulator of monocyte/macrophage function

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are ligand-dependent tr anscription factors of the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily, which incl udes the steroid, retinoid, and thyroid hormone receptors, The PPARs can be activated by fatty acids and their eicosanoid metabolites, and have until recently been considered primarily to regulate genes involved in glucose an d Lipid homeostasis. In the past year there has been an explosive increase in research implicating PPAR gamma in macrophage biology, cell cycle regula tion, and atherosclerosis. This review describes recent insights into the r ole of PPAR gamma in the macrophage Lineage, and its potential function in the regulation of inflammatory responses and atherosclerosis.