Research Article Details
Article ID: | A13037 |
PMID: | 30171034 |
Source: | Dis Model Mech |
Title: | Idebenone and coenzyme Q10 are novel PPARα/γ ligands, with potential for treatment of fatty liver diseases. |
Abstract: | Current peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-targeted drugs, such as the PPARγ-directed diabetes drug rosiglitazone, are associated with undesirable side effects due to robust agonist activity in non-target tissues. To find new PPAR ligands with fewer toxic effects, we generated transgenic zebrafish that can be screened in high throughput for new tissue-selective PPAR partial agonists. A structural analog of coenzyme Q10 (idebenone) that elicits spatially restricted partial agonist activity for both PPARα and PPARγ was identified. Coenzyme Q10 was also found to bind and activate both PPARs in a similar fashion, suggesting an endogenous role in relaying the states of mitochondria, peroxisomes and cellular redox to the two receptors. Testing idebenone in a mouse model of type 2 diabetes revealed the ability to reverse fatty liver development. These findings indicate new mechanisms of action for both PPARα and PPARγ, and new potential treatment options for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and steatosis.This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper. |
DOI: | 10.1242/dmm.034801 |

Strategy ID | Therapy Strategy | Synonyms | Therapy Targets | Therapy Drugs | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
S02 | Enhance lipid metabolism | triglyceride-lowering; lipid tolerance; lipid metabolism | 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) inhibitor; Decreases intestinal cholesterol absorption; FXR agonist; ACC inhibitor; FAS inhibitor; DGAT2 inhibitor; SCD-1 inhibitor | Atorvastatin; Ezetimibe; Obeticholic Acid; GS-9674; GS-0976; TVB-2640; IONIS-DGAT2rx; Aramchol; | Details |
Diseases ID | DO ID | Disease Name | Definition | Class | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
I05 | 9352 | Type 2 diabetes mellitus | A diabetes that is characterized by chronic hyperglycaemia with disturbances of carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. A diabetes mellitus that is characterized by high blood sugar, insulin resistance, and relative lack of insulin. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetes, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetes_mellitus_type_2 | disease of metabolism/inherited metabolic disorder/ carbohydrate metabolic disorder/glucose metabolism disease/diabetes/ diabetes mellitus | Details |
Drug ID | Drug Name | Type | DrugBank ID | Targets | Category | Latest Progress | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
D579 | Emfilermin | Miscellany | -- | adipocytes | Enhance lipid metabolism | Under investigation | Details |
D484 | Idebenone | Chemical drug | DB09081 | -- | -- | Under clinical trials | Details |
D080 | Citrulline | Chemical drug | DB00155 | -- | -- | Under clinical trials | Details |
D084 | Coenzyme Q10 | Chemical drug | DB09270 | -- | -- | Under clinical trials | Details |
D311 | Rosiglitazone | Chemical drug | DB00412 | PPARG agonist; PPARA; PPARD | Improve insulin resistance | Failed in clinical trials | Details |