Expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ in macrophage suppresses experimentally induced colitis

Peroxisome proliferatoractivated receptor-gamma ( PPAR-gamma) has been shown to be a protective transcription factor in mouse models of inflammatory bowel disease ( IBD). PPAR-gamma is expressed in several different cell types, and mice with a targeted disruption of the PPAR-gamma gene in intestinal epithelial cells demonstrated increased susceptibility to dextran sulfate sodium ( DSS)- induced IBD. However, the highly selective PPAR-gamma ligand rosiglitazone decreased the severity of DSS-induced colitis and suppressed cytokine production in both PPAR-gamma intestinal specific null mice and wild-type littermates. Therefore the role of PPAR-gamma in different tissues and their contribution to the pathogenesis of IBD still remain unclear. Mice with a targeted disruption of PPAR-gamma in macrophages (PPAR-gamma(Delta M phi)) and wild-type littermates (PPAR-gamma(F/F)) were administered 2.5% DSS in drinking water to induce IBD. Typical clinical symptoms were evaluated on a daily basis, and proinflammatory cytokine analysis was performed. PPAR-gamma(Delta M phi) mice displayed an increased susceptibility to DSS-induced colitis compared with wildtype littermates, as defined by body weight loss, diarrhea, rectal bleeding score, colon length, and histology. IL-1 beta, CCR2, MCP-1, and inducible nitric oxide synthase mRNA levels in colons of PPAR gamma(Delta M phi) gamma(Delta M phi) mice treated with DSS were higher than in similarly treated PPAR-gamma(F/F) mice. The present study has identified a novel protective role for macrophage PPAR-gamma in the DSS- induced IBD model. The data suggest that PPAR-gamma regulates recruitment of macrophages to inflammatory foci in the colon.