I. PPARγ in the gastrointestinal tract: gain or pain?

Abstract

The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) has recently been implicated in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and colon cancer. The observation that PPARγ agonists, through immune modulation, protect against inflammatory processes in the intestine justified their expedient evaluation in the clinical management of IBD. PPARγ agonists are reported to have both tumor-promoting and -inhibiting effects in models of colon cancer. These differences can, in part, be explained by PPARγ-independent effects of PPARγ agonists and by differences in the models used. Because it is still unclear how PPARγ impacts on colon cancer, careful monitoring of patients receiving PPARγ agonists and additional basic research is indicated before recommendations on the use of PPARγ ligands in colon cancer can be made.