Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors: insight into multiple cellular functions

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors, PPARs, (NR1C) are nuclear horm one receptors implicated in energy homeostasis. Upon activation, these liga nd-inducible transcription factors stimulate gene expression by binding to the promoter of target genes. The different structural domains of PPARs are presented in terms of activation mechanisms, namely ligand binding, phosph orylation, and cofactor interaction. The specificity of ligands, such as fa tty acids, eicosanoids, fibrates and thiazolidinediones (TZD), is described for each of the three PPAR isotypes, alpha (NR1C1), beta (NR1C2) and gamma (NR1C3), so as the differential tissue distribution of these isotypes. Fin ally, general and specific functions of the PPAR isotypes are discussed, na mely their implication in the control of inflammatory responses, cell proli feration and differentiation, the roles of PPAR alpha in fatty acid catabol ism and of PPAR gamma in adipogenesis. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All r ights reserved.