[Anti-inflammatory effect of PPARgamma agonists: basics and clinical applications].

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) plays critical roles on insulin sensitivity and adipocyte differentiation, and therefore, several agonists such as pioglitazone and rosiglitazone are used as anti-diabetic drugs. In addition to the original use, clinical applications for the therapy of several specific inflammatory diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease and rheumatoid arthritis are expected, because many reports indicated the anti-inflammatory effects of PPARgamma agonists on various animal disease models. In fact, several drugs and compounds are used or under clinical trials for the therapy of rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis, and other inflammation-related diseases. Further clinical applications for the therapy of intractable or chronic inflammatory diseases will be progressed.