Published online May 15, 2015. doi: 10.4239/wjd.v6.i4.654
Peer-review started: August 28, 2014
First decision: December 17, 2014
Revised: December 27, 2014
Accepted: February 9, 2015
Article in press: February 11, 2015
Published online: May 15, 2015
Processing time: 260 Days and 4.4 Hours
Metabolic syndrome (MetS) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are the serious public health problems worldwide. Moreover, it is estimated that MetS patients have about five-fold greater risk of the T2DM development compared with people without the syndrome. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors are a subgroup of the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily of ligand-activated transcription factors which play an important role in the pathogenesis of MetS and T2DM. All three members of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) nuclear receptor subfamily, PPARα, PPARβ/δ and PPARγ are critical in regulating insulin sensitivity, adipogenesis, lipid metabolism, and blood pressure. Recently, more and more studies indicated that the gene polymorphism of PPARs, such as Leu162Val and Val227Ala of PPARα, +294T > C of PPARβ/δ, Pro12Ala and C1431T of PPARγ, are significantly associated with the onset and progressing of MetS and T2DM in different population worldwide. Furthermore, a large body of evidence demonstrated that the glucose metabolism and lipid metabolism were influenced by gene-gene interaction among PPARs genes. However, given the complexity pathogenesis of metabolic disease, it is unlikely that genetic variation of a single locus would provide an adequate explanation of inter-individual differences which results in diverse clinical syndromes. Thus, gene-gene interactions and gene-environment interactions associated with T2DM and MetS need future comprehensive studies.
Core tip: Recently, more and more studies indicated that the gene polymorphism influence of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs), including PPARα, PPARβ/δ and PPARγ, acted as a pivotal role in the onset and progressing of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We reviewed the recent advances in the relationships between PPARs polymorphisms and MetS and T2DM. Also, we discussed the effects of gene-gene interaction among PPARs genes on the MetS and T2DM herein.