Integrative and systemic approaches for evaluating PPARβ/δ (PPARD) function

• Published in: Nuclear receptor signaling 2015, Vol.13 (1), p.e001-e001
• Main Authors: Giordano Attianese, Greta M P, Desvergne, Béatrice
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Base Sequence; Cell Physiological Phenomena; Genomics; Humans; PPAR delta - chemistry; PPAR delta - genetics; PPAR delta - metabolism; PPAR-beta - chemistry; PPAR-beta - genetics; PPAR-beta - metabolism; Systems Biology - methods
• ISSN: 1550-7629; 1550-7629
• DOI: 10.1621/nrs.13001

The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are a group of nuclear receptors that function as transcription factors regulating the expression of genes involved in cellular differentiation, development, metabolism and also tumorigenesis. Three PPAR isotypes (α, β/δ and γ) have been identified, among which PPARβ/δ is the most difficult to functionally examine due to its tissue-specific diversity in cell fate determination, energy metabolism and housekeeping activities. PPARβ/δ acts both in a ligand-dependent and -independent manner. The specific type of regulation, activation or repression, is determined by many factors, among which the type of ligand, the presence/absence of PPARβ/δ-interacting corepressor or coactivator complexes and PPARβ/δ protein post-translational modifications play major roles. Recently, new global approaches to the study of nuclear receptors have made it possible to evaluate their molecular activity in a more systemic fashion, rather than deeply digging into a single pathway/function. This systemic approach is ideally suited for studying PPARβ/δ, due to its ubiquitous expression in various organs and its overlapping and tissue-specific transcriptomic signatures. The aim of the present review is to present in detail the diversity of PPARβ/δ function, focusing on the different information gained at the systemic level, and describing the global and unbiased approaches that combine a systems view with molecular understanding.