Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ ligands suppress liver carcinogenesis induced by diethylnitrosamine in rats

AIM: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ ) is known to regulate growth arrest and terminal differentiation of adipocytes and is used clinically as a new class of antidiabetic drugs. Recently, several studies have reported that treatment of cancer cells with PPARγ ligands could induce cell differentiation and apoptosis, suggesting a potential application as chemopreventive agents against carcinogenesis. In the present study, 3 different kinds of PPARγ ligands were subjected to the experiments to confirm their suppressive effects on liver carcinogenesis. METHODS: Three PPARγ ligands, pioglitazone (Pio) (200 ppm), rosiglitazone (Rosi) (200 ppm), and troglitazone (Tro) (1000 ppm) were investigated on the induction of the placental form of rat glutathione S-transferase (rGST P) positive foci, a precancerous lesion of the liver,and liver cancer formation using a diethylnitrosamine-induced liver cancer model in Wistar rats, and dose dependency of a PPARγ ligand was also examined. RESULTS: PPARγ ligands reduced the formation of rGST P-positive foci by diethylnitrosamine and induction of liver cancers was also markedly suppressed by a continuous feeding of Pio at 200 ppm. CONCLUSION: PPARγ ligands are potential chemopreventive agents for liver carcinogenesis.