PPARs in Viral Disease

Call for Papers

Experimental evidence shows that PPARs play a role in various viral infections. In HIV-infected patients, viral proteins and antiretroviral treatments may promote lipodystrophy and insulin resistance through PPARγ inactivation. Furthermore, liver injury was associated with altered hepatic PPARγ expression in lipodystrophic HIV patients. PPARγ agonists may prove valuable to the task of treating neuro-AIDs, as they inhibit HIV-infected monocyte migration across the BBB. Also, recent research indicates that HCV core protein may promote liver steatosis partly through PPARα activation and/or PPARα downregulation. In keeping with this contention, decreased PPARα expression has been demonstrated in the liver of patients with chronic hepatitis C. The involvement of PPARγ has also been suggested in the pathogenesis of HCV-induced insulin resistance. Despite the fact that metabolic disorders are less frequent in HBV infection, experiments have shown that HBx protein upregulated PPARγ expression and promoted liver steatosis. Conversely, potential effect of PPARs on viral replication was reported in HIV as well as in HCV and HBV infections. In HIV infection models, it has been shown that viral replication was modulated by PPARα and PPARγ. In HBV and HCV infections, PPARα increases viral replication, and PPARγ has been shown to interact with EBV and RSV infections. Collectively, these findings promote PPARs as potential new therapeutic targets in viral diseases.

We invite investigators to submit original research articles or reviews that address the role of PPARS in the pathophysiology of viral infections. The main topics to be covered include, but are not limited to:

  • Role of PPARs in neuro-AIDS
  • Role of HIV and HIV antiretrovirals in adipose tissue pathophysiology
  • PPARs and liver injury in HIV patients
  • Interaction between HBV, PPARs and RXRs
  • PPARs in HCV-related steatosis
  • PPARs and HCV-related insulin resistance
  • PPARs and other viral infections, for example, EBV and RSV
  • Interactions between PPARs and viral TLR pathways
  • Effects of thiazolidinediones on metabolic complications and lipodystrophy in HIV-infected patients

Authors should follow the PPAR Research manuscript format described at the journal site http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ppar/. Prospective authors should submit an electronic copy of their complete manuscript through the journal Manuscript Tracking System at http://mts.hindawi.com/, according to the following timetable.

Manuscript DueJuly 1, 2008
First Round of ReviewsOctober 1, 2008
Publication DateJanuary 1, 2009

Guest Editors:

  • Lawrence Serfaty, Faculté de Médecine, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, 75012 Paris, France
  • Jacqueline Capeau, Faculté de Médecine, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, 75012 Paris, France