PPARγ provides anti-inflammatory and protective effects in intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy through NF-κB pathway

Abstract Aims Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is a pregnancy-specific hepatic disorder with potentially deleterious consequences of fetuses. Although the intimate relationship between ICP and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) has been previously reported in physiological and pathological conditions, the detailed mechanisms in the process of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy has been unclear. The aims of this study are to assess the role of PPARγ regulating the reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inflammation in the process of the ICP. Methods Clinical data of the pregnant women were collected. And the serum of cytokines, hepatic function, the expression of PPARγ and NF-κB were measured. The rat and fetal rat ICP model were constructed and detection of the expression of PPARγ and NF-κB, evaluation the level of ROS and inflammation. Results The clinical data showed that the new-born information in severe ICP group were significantly different as compared to that in control group (P  Conclusions PPARγ provides the anti-inflammatory and protective effects in intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy through NF-κB pathway, which might be a probably one of the mechanisms of ICP.