[PPARgamma as a new therapeutic target in inflammatory diseases].

The peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-gamma (PPARgamma) is a nuclear receptor highly expressed in the gastrointestinal tract and playing a key role in inflammation. Several natural and synthetic PPARgamma ligands have been the focus of extensive research effort as potent anti-inflammatory agents in gastrointestinal diseases. In the last decade, accumulative experimental evidence has further suggested that PPARgamma is involved in several inflammatory signaling pathways associated with acute and chronic inflammation. The aims of this review are to discuss the potential roles of PPARgamma in the pathophysiology of the gastrointestinal tract, as well as the emerging therapeutic strategies targeting this receptor.