Effects of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ agonists on central nervous system inflammation

Abstract

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) plays a critical role in glucose and lipid metabolism. More recently, PPAR-γ ligands have been reported to inhibit the expression of proinflammatory molecules by monocytes/macrophages. Of relevance to CNS disease is that PPAR-γ agonists have been demonstrated to have similar effects on microglia. PPAR-γ agonists also ameliorate experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, an animal model of multiple sclerosis. This Mini-Review summarizes the effects of PPAR-γ agonists in mediating immune responses and the potential of these agonists in the treatment of inflammatory disorders of the CNS. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.