Do peroxisome proliferation receptor-γ antagonists have clinical potential as combined antiobesity and antidiabetic drugs?

There is genetic evidence that reducing the activity of peroxisome proliferation receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) may increase insulin sensitivity. SR-202 is a selective antagonist at PPAR-γ, which inhibits the adipocyte differentiation normally seen with the PPAR-γ agonist rosiglitazone. SR-202 also reduces the ability of young mice to put on weight and accumulate fat. The levels of circulating TNF-α correlates with body fat stores and/or hyperinsulinaemia. SR-202- treated wild-type mice have reduced TNF-α levels. When wild-type mice are fed a high-fat diet, the plasma levels of TNF-α are raised, and SR-202 treatment protects against this rise. Feeding mice with a high-fat diet induced insulin resistance measured as increased plasma levels of glucose, insulin and free fatty acids, and SR-202 protected against these changes. The ob/ob mouse is diabetic at 8 weeks and plasma glucose and insulin levels continue to rise over the next 3 weeks, and treatment with SR-202 prevents these increases. The development of PPAR-γ antagonists should continue as the results to date suggest that they have clinical potential for the treatment of diabetes Type 2 and obesity.