The role of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma in blood pressure regulation.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARgamma) is a member of the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily. It is expressed in adipocytes, immune cells, and cardiovascular cells that include cardiomyocytes, endothelial cells, and smooth muscle cells. PPARgamma plays a role in regulating cellular anti-inflammatory responses and is a mediator of insulin sensitization induced by thiazolidinediones, which also can reduce elevated blood pressure both clinically and experimentally. As a result, research regarding the role of PPARgamma in blood pressure homeostasis is ongoing. Recent studies have demonstrated that increases or decreases in blood pressure phenotype may be PPARgamma-dependent and involve a number of different signaling pathways. Furthermore, studies using PPARgamma mutant transgenic and knockout animal models provide further evidence regarding a role for endothelial-cell and vascular smooth muscle-cell PPARgamma in blood pressure regulation. However, there is a need for further research regarding PPARgamma--mediated mechanisms involved in maintaining physiologic control of blood pressure.