Ligand-Activated Peroxisome Proliferator–Activated Receptor-γ Protects Against Ischemic Cerebral Infarction and Neuronal Apoptosis by 14-3-3ε Upregulation

Background— Thiazolidinediones have been reported to protect against ischemia-reperfusion injury. Their protective actions are considered to be peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ)–dependent; however, it is unclear how PPAR-γ activation confers resistance to ischemia-reperfusion injury. Methods and Results— We evaluated the effects of rosiglitazone or PPAR-γ overexpression on cerebral infarction in a rat model and investigated the antiapoptotic actions in the N2-A neuroblastoma cell model. Rosiglitazone or PPAR-γ overexpression significantly reduced infarct volume. The protective effect was abrogated by PPAR-γ small interfering RNA. In mice with knock-in of a PPAR-γ dominant-negative mutant, infarct volume was enhanced. Proteomic analysis revealed that brain 14-3-3e was highly upregulated in rats treated with rosiglitazone. Upregulation of 14-3-3e was abrogated by PPAR-γ small interfering RNA or antagonist. Promoter analysis and chromatin immunoprecipitation revealed that rosiglitazone in...