Un rôle pour PPARγ dans la reproduction?

Abstract

Synthetic molecules of the glitazone family are currently used in the treatment of type 11 diabetes. Glitazones also improve secondary pathologies that are frequently associated with insulin resistance such as the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Glitazones bind to the peroxysome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), a nuclear receptor which is highly expressed in adipose tissue. PPARγ also binds natural ligands such as long-chain fatty acids. Recently, several groups have shown that PPARγ is also highly expressed in ovarian granulosa cells, and that glitazones are able to modulate in vitro granulosa cell proliferation and steroïdogenesis in several species. These recent data raise new questions concerning the underlying mechanism of the effect of glitazones on PCOS. One might hypothesize, as for other « glucophage » molecules such as metformin, that it is the general improvement of glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity by glitazones which indirectly, and via an unknown mechanism, ameliorates ovarian functionality. The data discussed here suggest now an alternative possibility, that glitazones act directly at the ovarian level. Moreover, PPARγ also seems to play a key role in the maturation of the placenta. In particular, inactivation of PPARγy in mice is lethal, since the foetus is unable to develop because of alterations of placental maturation. In women, the activation of PPARγ in placenta leads to an increase of placental hormone secretion. Overall, these results raise some questions about the role of natural ligands of PPARγ such as long chain fatty acids on female fertility and the interactions between energy metabolism and reproduction in general.