Role of Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor γ in Ocular Diseases

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR gamma), a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily, is a ligand-activated transcription factor that plays an important role in the control of a variety of physiological processes. The last decade has witnessed an increasing interest for the role played by the agonists of PPAR gamma in antiangiogenesis, antifibrosis, anti-inflammation effects and in controlling oxidative stress response in various organs. As the pathologic mechanisms of major blinding diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy (DR), keratitis, and optic neuropathy, often involve neoangiogenesis and inflammation- and oxidative stress-mediated cell death, evidences are accumulating on the potential benefits of PPAR gamma to improve or prevent these vision threatening eye diseases. In this paper we describe what is known about the role of PPAR gamma in the ocular pathophysiological processes and PPAR gamma agonists as novel adjuvants in the treatment of eye diseases.