Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors Alpha, Beta, and Gamma mRNA and Protein Expression in Human Fetal Tissues

摘要

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) regulate lipid and glucose homeostasis, are targets of pharmaceuticals, and are also activated by environmental contaminants. Almost nothing is known about expression of PPARs during human fetal development. This study examines expression of PPARα,β, andγmRNA and protein in human fetal tissues. With increasing fetal age, mRNA expression of PPARαandβincreased in liver, but PPARβdecreased in heart and intestine, and PPARγdecreased in adrenal. Adult and fetal mean expression of PPARα,β, andγmRNA did not differ in intestine, but expression was lower in fetal stomach and heart. PPARαandβmRNA in kidney and spleen, and PPARγmRNA in lung and adrenal were lower in fetal versus adult. PPARγin liver and PPARβmRNA in thymus were higher in fetal versus adult. PPARαprotein increased with fetal age in intestine and decreased in lung, kidney, and adrenal. PPARβprotein in adrenal and PPARγin kidney decreased with fetal age. This study provides new information on expression of PPAR subtypes during human development and will be important in evaluating the potential for the developing human to respond to PPAR environmental or pharmaceutical agonists.