Frontiers in Pharmacology (Jan 2022)

Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor-Gamma Reduces ER Stress and Inflammation via Targeting NGBR Expression

  • Jialing Ma,
  • Peng Zeng,
  • Lipei Liu,
  • Mengmeng Zhu,
  • Juan Zheng,
  • Chengyi Wang,
  • Xiaokang Zhao,
  • Wenquan Hu,
  • Xiaoxiao Yang,
  • Yajun Duan,
  • Jihong Han,
  • Jihong Han,
  • Qing R. Miao,
  • Yuanli Chen

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2021.817784
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 12

Abstract

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Increased Nogo-B receptor (NGBR) expression in the liver improves insulin sensitivity by reducing endoplasmic reticulum stress (ER stress) and activating the AMPK pathway, although it remains elusive the mechanisms by which NGBR is induced. In this study, we found that PPARγ ligands (rosiglitazone or pioglitazone) increased NGBR expression in hepatic cells and HUVECs. Furthermore, promoter analysis defined two PPREs (PPARγ-responsive elements) in the promoter region of NGBR, which was further confirmed by the ChIP assay. In vivo, using liver-specific PPARγ deficient (PPARγLKO) mice, we identified the key role of PPARγ expression in pioglitazone-induced NGBR expression. Meanwhile, the basal level of ER stress and inflammation was slightly increased by NGBR knockdown. However, the inhibitory effect of rosiglitazone on inflammation was abolished while rosiglitazone-inhibited ER stress was weakened by NGBR knockdown. Taken together, these findings show that NGBR is a previously unrecognized target of PPARγ activation and plays an essential role in PPARγ-reduced ER stress and inflammation.

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