Introduction.- History of PPAR Discovery: Peroxisomes -- Peroxisomal biogenesis and diseases -- Peroxisome proliferation.- Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors: Chromosomal location and gene polymorphism -- Protein structure -- PPAR Ligands: Endogenous ligands -- Exogenous PPAR modulators -- Tissue Distribution and Versatile Functions of PPARs: Neurological functions of PPARs.- PPARs and the cardiovascular system.- PPARs in pulmonary physiology and disease.- Gastrointestinal roles of PPARs.- PPAR functions in the liver.- Roles of PPARs in the pancreas.- PPARs in the urinary tract physiology and pathophysiology.- PPARs in the reproductive system -- Bone metabolism and PPARs.- Roles of PPARs in skeletal muscle biology.- Skin PPARs.- PPARs and Drug Metabolism -- Molecular Aspects of PPAR Actions: Posttranslational control of PPARs.- Mechanism of action.- Animal Models in PPAR Research.- Safety of PPAR Agonists.- The Future of PPAR Research.

All three peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) subtypes share a high degree of structural homology while exhibiting differences in function, tissue distribution, and ligand specificity. In Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors: Discovery and Recent Advances, the authors trace the history of PPAR discovery and detail the receptor structure and its posttranslational modifications. Furthermore, endogenous ligands as well as various classes of exogenous ligands, subtype-selective, dual and pan agonists as well as antagonists, are discussed. In addition, the tissue distribution and versatile functions of PPAR subtypes in major organs are described.   As PPARs play critical roles as regulators of numerous physiological as well as pathophysiological pathways, Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors: Discovery and Recent Advances aims to help researchers to develop safer and more effective PPAR modulators as therapeutic agents to treat a myriad of diseases and conditions.