Description
Background: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) is a member of the ligand-activated nuclear receptor superfamily and functions as a transcriptional activator (1). PPARgamma is preferentially expressed in adipocytes as well as in vascular smooth muscle cells and macrophage (2). Besides its role in mediating adipogenesis and lipid metabolism (2), PPARgamma also modulates insulin sensitivity, cell proliferation and inflammation (3). PPARgamma transcriptional activity is inhibited by MAP kinase phosphorylation of PPARgamma at Ser84 (4,5)