PPAR-δin Vascular Pathophysiology
Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors belong to the superfamily of ligand-dependent nuclear receptor transcription factors, which include three subtypes: PPAR-α,β/δ, andγ. PPAR-δ, play important roles in the regulation of cell growth and differentiation as well as tissue wound and repair. Emerging evidence has also demonstrated that PPAR-δis implicated in lipids and glucose metabolism. Most recently, the direct effects of PPAR-δon cardiovascular processes such as endothelial function and angiogenesis have also been investigated. Therefore, it is suggested that PPAR-δmay have critical roles in cardiovascular pathophysiology and is a potential target for therapeutic intervention of cardiovascular disorders such as atherosclerosis.