The nonthiazolidinedione PPARgamma agonist L-796,449 is neuroprotective in experimental stroke.

Some agonists of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) belonging to the thiazolidinedione (TZD) family, as well as the cyclopentenone prostaglandin 15-dPGJ2, have been shown to cause neuroprotection in animal models of stroke. We have tested whether the TZD-unrelated PPARgamma agonist L-796,449 is neuroprotective after permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in the rat brain. Our results show that L-796,449 decreases MCAO-induced infarct size and improves neurologic scores. This protection is concomitant to inhibition of MCAO-induced brain expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and the matrix metalloproteinase MMP-9 and to upregulation of the cytoprotective stress protein heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). Analysis of the NF-kappaB p65 monomer and the NF-kappaB inhibitor IkappaBalpha protein levels as well as gel mobility shift assays indicate that L-796,449 inhibits NF-kappaB signaling, and that it may be recruiting both PPARgamma-dependent and independent pathways. In summary, our results provide new insights for stroke treatment.