Current concepts of PPAR-gamma signaling in diabetes mellitus

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs, alpha, delta and gamma) constitute a distinct subfamily of the superfamily of nuclear receptors th at are activated by naturally occurring fatty acids or fatty acid derivativ es. Recently, there is an increased interest in PPAR gamma research because they (a) are key regulators of adipocyte differentiation and energy source and (b) are cellular targets of thiazolidinedione drugs, which are used to treat Type 2 diabetes by decreasing insulin resistance, Additionally, PPAR gamma has emerged to be a powerful player in general transcriptional contr ol of numerous cellular processes, with implications in diabetes and obesit y, cell cycle control, carcinogenesis, inflammation, atherosclerosis and im munomodulation, This review focuses on some of the recent research on the p ivotal role of PPAR gamma in insulin resistance and Type 2 diabetes.