The liver has long been known to respond to exposure to certain chemicals w
ith hyperplasia and proliferation of the peroxisomal compartment. This resp
onse is now known to be mediated by specific receptors. The peroxisome prol
iferator-activated receptors (PPARs) were cloned 10 years ago, and in that
interval, have been found to serve as receptors for a number of endogenous
lipid compounds, in addition to the peroxisome proliferators that originall
y led to their study. Three receptors, designated the alpha, delta, and gam
ma receptors, have been found in mammals. PPAR alpha is the most abundant f
orm found in the liver, with smaller amounts of the delta and gamma forms a
lso expressed there. Kupffer cells, like other macrophages, appear to expre
ss the alpha and gamma isoforms. Hepatic stellate cells are reported to exp
ress the gamma isoform. PPAR alpha knock-out mice fail to undergo peroxisom
e proliferation when challenged with the proliferators. Moreover, they have
severe derangements of lipid metabolism, particularly during fasting, indi
cating that normal function of the alpha receptors is needed for lipid home
ostasis. This in turn suggests that inadequate PPAR-mediated responses may
contribute to abnormal fatty acid metabolism in alcoholic and non-alcoholic
steatohepatitis. Recent information suggests that PPAR gamma, receptors ma
y be important in control of the activation state of the stellate cells, an
d their repression or inactivation may predispose to hepatic fibrosis. The
first approved drug that specifically activates PPAR gamma, troglitazone, h
as rarely been found to cause serious liver injury. Although this is likely
to represent an idiosyncratic reaction, the medical community win need to
be alert to the possibility that activation or blockade of these receptors
may cause hepatic dysfunction.