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The biology of PGC-1α and its therapeutic potential.

  • Handschin C Biozentrum, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 50-70, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland. christoph.handschin@unibas.ch
  • 2009-05-19
Published in:
  • Trends in pharmacological sciences. - 2009
Animals
Brain Diseases
Heat-Shock Proteins
Humans
Liver Diseases
Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator 1-alpha
Transcription Factors
English In eukaryotes, cellular and systemic metabolism is primarily controlled by mitochondrial activity. The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1alpha (PGC-1alpha) is an important regulator of mitochondrial biogenesis and function. Furthermore, PGC-1alpha controls many of the phenotypic adaptations of oxidative tissues to external and internal perturbations. By contrast, dysregulated metabolic plasticity is involved in the etiology of numerous diseases. Accordingly, modulation of PGC-1alpha levels and activity has recently been proposed as a therapeutic option for several pathologies. However, pharmacological interventions aimed at PGC-1alpha have to overcome inherent limitations of targeting a coactivator protein. Here, I focus on the recent breakthroughs in the identification of physiological and pathophysiological contexts involving PGC-1alpha. In addition, perspectives regarding the therapeutic importance of PGC-1alpha-controlled cellular and systemic metabolism are outlined.
Language
  • English
Open access status
green
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Persistent URL
https://folia.unifr.ch/global/documents/129754
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