Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-alpha is a fatty acid activated transcription factors that belongs to the nuclear hormone receptor family. Primarily PPAR-alpha serves as a lipid sensor. While PPAR-alpha controls enzymes from the lipid and glucose metabolism in the liver, heart and muscles, PPAR-alpha is also involved in skin homeostasis. PPAR-alpha controls keratinocyte proliferation/differentiation, contributes to wound healing and regulates skin inflammation. PPAR-alpha activation exerts anti-inflammatory effects in various skin conditions such as irritant and allergic contact dermatitis, atopic dermatitis and UV-induced erythema, rendering investigations into the functions of PPAR-alpha necessary to provide better understandings to treat many inflammatory skin disorders.
Keywords: PPAR; allergic contact dermatitis; atopic dermatitis; psoriasis; skin barrier.