<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Atherosclerosis is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in the developed world. It is characterized by the formation of a plaque in the walls of middle and large arteries leading to macrovascular complications. Several risk factors are included, with diabetes being one of the most important for the onset and development of atherosclerosis. Due to an increase in the prevalence of diabetes in the world, the incidence of diabetic complications (microvascular and macrovascular) is increasing. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) plays a important role in atherosclerotic processes. Peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ belongs to the superfamily of nuclear receptors, has a great presence in fat tissue, macrophages, and regulates gene expression and most of the processes that lead to the onset and development of atherosclerosis. In this review, we discuss the basic patho-physiological mechanisms of atherosclerosis in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Furthermore, we discuss the impact of PPARγ polymorphisms, and the epigenetic mechanisms affecting the onset of atherosclerosis, <italic>i.e</italic>, DNA methylation and demethylation, histone acetylation and deacetylation, and RNA-based mechanisms. Moreover, we add therapeutic possibilities for acting on epigenetic mechanisms in order to prevent the onset and progression of atherosclerosis.</p></abstract>

Atherosclerosis is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in the developed world. It is characterized by the formation of a plaque in the walls of middle and large arteries leading to macrovascular complications. Several risk factors are included, with diabetes being one of the most important for the onset and development of atherosclerosis. Due to an increase in the prevalence of diabetes in the world, the incidence of diabetic complications (microvascular and macrovascular) is increasing. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) plays a important role in atherosclerotic processes. Peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ belongs to the superfamily of nuclear receptors, has a great presence in fat tissue, macrophages, and regulates gene expression and most of the processes that lead to the onset and development of atherosclerosis. In this review, we discuss the basic patho-physiological mechanisms of atherosclerosis in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Furthermore, we discuss the impact of PPARγ polymorphisms, and the epigenetic mechanisms affecting the onset of atherosclerosis, i.e, DNA methylation and demethylation, histone acetylation and deacetylation, and RNA-based mechanisms. Moreover, we add therapeutic possibilities for acting on epigenetic mechanisms in order to prevent the onset and progression of atherosclerosis.

PPAR𝛾 gene and atherosclerosis: Genetic polymorphisms, epigenetics and therapeutic implications

Balkan Journal of Medical Genetics

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Atherosclerosis is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in the developed world. It is characterized by the formation of a plaque in the walls of middle...

PPAR𝛾 gene and atherosclerosis: Genetic polymorphisms, epigenetics and therapeutic implications

Article Category: Original Article

Published Online: Oct 29, 2018

Page range: 39 - 46

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/bjmg-2018-0011

Keywords
Atherosclerosis, carotid atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease (CAD), Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) polymorphisms, epigenetics of PPARγ, therapeutic possibilities, pathophysiology

© 2018 Grbić E, Peterlin A, Kunej T, Petrovič D, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

PPAR𝛾 gene and atherosclerosis: Genetic polymorphisms, epigenetics and therapeutic implications

Article Category: Original Article

Published Online: Oct 29, 2018

Page range: 39 - 46

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/bjmg-2018-0011

KeywordsAtherosclerosis, carotid atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease (CAD), Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) polymorphisms, epigenetics of PPARγ, therapeutic possibilities, pathophysiology

© 2018 Grbić E, Peterlin A, Kunej T, Petrovič D, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
Atherosclerosis, carotid atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease (CAD), Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) polymorphisms, epigenetics of PPARγ, therapeutic possibilities, pathophysiology