Generation and characterization of a humanized PPARδ mouse model.

BACKGROUND AND
PURPOSE: Humanized mice for the nuclear receptor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor δ (PPARδ), termed PPARδ knock-in (PPARδ KI) mice, were generated for the investigation of functional differences between mouse and human PPARδ and as tools for early drug efficacy assessment. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: Human PPARδ function in lipid metabolism was assessed at baseline, after fasting or when challenged with the GW0742 compound in mice fed a chow diet or high-fat diet (HFD). KEY
RESULTS: Analysis of PPARδ mRNA levels revealed a hypomorph expression of human PPARδ in liver, macrophages, small intestine and heart, but not in soleus and quadriceps muscles, white adipose tissue and skin. PPARδ KI mice displayed a small decrease of high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol whereas other lipid parameters were unaltered. Plasma metabolic parameters were similar in wild-type and PPARδ KI mice when fed chow or HFD, and following physiological (fasting) and pharmacological (GW0742 compound) activation of PPARδ. Gene expression profiling in liver, soleus muscle and macrophages showed similar gene patterns regulated by mouse and human PPARδ. The anti-inflammatory potential of human PPARδ was also similar to mouse PPARδ in liver and isolated macrophages. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: These data indicate that human PPARδ can compensate for mouse PPARδ in the regulation of lipid metabolism and inflammation. Overall, this novel PPARδ KI mouse model shows full responsiveness to pharmacological challenge and represents a useful tool for the preclinical assessment of PPARδ activators with species-specific activity.