Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) induces the gene expression of integrin αVβ5 to promote macrophage M2 polarization.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) is a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily and polarizes the macrophages into an anti-inflammatory M2 state. Integrins are transmembrane receptors that drive various cellular functions, including monocyte adhesion and foam cell formation. In this study, we first reported that the expression of integrins αV and β5 was up-regulated by PPARγ activation in RAW264.7 cells and human peripheral blood monocytes. Luciferase reporter and ChIP assay revealed that PPARγ directly bound to the potential PPAR-responsive elements sites in the 5'-flanking regions of both murine and human integrin αV and β5 genes, respectively. In addition, we showed that PPARγ augmented the ligation of integrins αV and β5 Knockdown of integrin αVβ5 by siRNA strategy or treatment with cilengitide, a potent inhibitor of integrin αVβ5, attenuated PPARγ-induced expression of Ym1 (chitinase-like protein 3), Arg1 (Arginase1), Fizz1 (resistin-like molecule RELMα), and other M2 marker genes, suggesting that the heterodimers of integrin αVβ5 were involved in PPARγ-induced M2 polarization. In conclusion, these results provided novel evidence that PPARγ-mediated gene expression and the ensuing ligation of integrins αV and β5 are implicated in macrophage M2 polarization.