A Selective Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor-γ Modulator, Telmisartan, Binds to the Receptor in a Different Fashion from Thiazolidinediones

Angiotensin type 1 receptor blockers are widely used for the treatment of hypertension, and one angiotensin type 1 receptor blocker, telmisartan, specifically activates the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-gamma. We studied the impact of PPAR gamma mutants on transcriptional control and interaction with cofactors to elucidate differences in the molecular mechanism between telmisartan and other PPAR gamma agonists, thiazolidinediones (TZDs). We created several amino acid substitutions in the ligand binding domain of PPAR gamma that, based on molecular modeling, may affect the binding of these agents. In transient expression experiments, wild-type PPAR gamma-mediated transcription stimulated by telmisartan was more than one third of that stimulated by TZDs. The activation stimulated by TZDs was impaired, whereas activation stimulated by telmisartan was retained, in the H323Y, S342A, and H449A mutants. In the Y473A mutant, the TZD-induced activation was further impaired and lower than that of telmisartan-induced activation. Coexpression of coactivators enhanced the activation by both telmisartan and TZDs, but activation by telmisartan always exceeded that of TZDs in the Y473A mutant. Based on a mammalian two-hybrid assay, the interaction with corepressors was retained in Y473A. Telmisartan and TZDs, but not 9cis retinoic acid, dissociated corepressors from the wild-type PPAR gamma. Telmisartan most effectively dissociated corepressors from Y473A. The interaction with coactivators was enhanced by TZD activation of wild-type PPAR gamma and both telmisartan and TZD activation of Y473A. Thus, the Y473A mutant is selectively stimulated by telmisartan but not TZDs, suggesting that telmisartan and TZDs have differential effects on the transcriptional control. In conclusion, these PPAR gamma mutants could be powerful tools for developing novel therapeutic agents that retain the metabolic efficacy of PPAR gamma activation with fewer adverse effects, such as the increase in body weight associated with TZDs. (Endocrinology 150: 862-870, 2009)