Nuclear Receptor Research

Abstract

PPAR�, a Potential Therapeutic Target for Heart Disease

Author(s): Qinglin Yang and Qinqiang Long

The nuclear receptor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor � (PPAR�) can transcriptionally regulate target genes. PPAR� exerts essential regulatory functions in the heart, which requires constant energy supply. PPAR� plays a key role in energy metabolism, controlling not only fatty acid (FA) and glucose oxidation, but also redox homeostasis, mitochondrial biogenesis, inflammation, and cardiomyocyte proliferation. PPAR� signaling is impaired in the heart under various pathological conditions, such as pathological cardiac hypertrophy, myocardial ischemia/reperfusion, doxorubicin cardiotoxicity and diabetic cardiomyopathy. PPAR� deficiency in the heart leads to cardiac dysfunction, myocardial lipid accumulation, cardiac hypertrophy/remodeling and heart failure. This article provides an up-today overview of this research area and discusses the role of PPAR� in the heart in light of the complex mechanisms of its transcriptional regulation and its potential as a translatable therapeutic target for the treatment of cardiac disorders.