Association of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma 2 Pro12Ala polymorphism with advanced-stage endometriosis

The role of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors in endometriosis

Endometriosis constitutes the most common cause of chronic pelvic pain in female patients and is associated with infertility. Although there is no known cause for the disease, it is a heritable condition that is determined by numerous genetic, epigenetic, and environmental aspects. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) represent nuclear receptor proteins that control gene expression. By using the MEDLINE and LIVIVO databases we conducted a literature review in order to look into the role of PPARs in the endometriosis pathophysiology and succeeded in revealing 36 pertinent publications between 2001 and 2022. In regards to PPAR expression in endometriosis, PPARγ seems to represent the most studied PPAR isoform in endometriosis and to influence various pathways involved in the disease onset and progression. It's interesting to note that diverse treatment agents targeting the PPAR system have been identified as innovative, effective therapeutic alternatives in the context of endometriosis treatment. In conclusion, PPARs appear to contribute an important role in both endometriosis pathophysiology and therapy.

Insights into Assessing the Genetics of Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a complex disease arising from the interplay between multiple genetic and environmental factors. The genetic variants potentially underlying the hereditary component of endometriosis have been widely investigated through hypothesis-driven candidate gene studies, an approach that generally has proven to be inherently difficult and problematic for a number of reasons. Recently, through major collaborative efforts in the endometriosis research field, hypothesis-free genome-wide approaches have started to provide new insights into potential pathways leading to development of endometriosis, as well as highlighting the phenotypic heterogeneity of the condition. This review summarizes the most recent studies investigating the genetic variation contributing to endometriosis, with a particular focus on genome-wide approaches, and discusses promising future directions of genetic research.

Gastrointestinal Cytoprotection by PPARγ Ligands

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) is a nuclear receptor that is known to play a central role in lipid metabolism and insulin sensitivity as well as inflammation and cell proliferation. According to the results obtained from studies on several animal models of gastrointestinal inflammation, PPARγ has been implicated in the regulation of the immune response, particularly inflammation control, and has gained importance as a potential therapeutic target in the management of gastrointestinal inflammation. In the present paper, we present the current knowledge on the role of PPARγ ligands in the gastrointestinal tract.