Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors (PPARs): A Themed Issue in Honor of Prof. Walter Wahli

Dear Colleagues,

Prof. Walter Wahli has spent much of his career exploring and helping to define the functions of Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors (PPARs). The pioneering work of Dr. Wahli in the field of PPARs started more than 25 years ago. At that time, the idea that “classic” nuclear hormone receptors (e.g., estrogen receptors and glucocorticoid receptors) may belong to a larger superfamily gained momentum. Prof. Wahli’s group started to search for new members of this putative superfamily using the DNA binding domain coding sequence of the estrogen receptor as a probe. Using it as a screening tool of cDNA libraries under low stringency hybridization conditions, they found novel receptors, now called PPARα, β, γ. The first of them, PPARα, was discovered independently and was published first by Isabelle Issemann and Stephen Green, while Walter Wahli and colleagues were characterizing all three isotypes of this PPAR subfamily.

Since this cutting-edge study in the field of PPARs, additional contributions of Walter Wahli and collaborators have unraveled the intricate mechanisms through which PPARs are activated by fatty acids and regulate gene expression in metabolic and physiological pathways. These findings, not least that fatty acids can use nuclear receptor-mediated mechanisms like hormones, reshaped our understanding of metabolic diseases and provided invaluable insights into potential therapeutic avenues using synthetic compounds. Dr. Wahli's exceptional vision and scientific acumen have not only enriched our knowledge of PPAR biology but have also inspired countless researchers to delve deeper into the complexities of these receptors. His legacy will forever endure as an example of excellence, reminding us of the transformative power of scientific inquiry and its potential to improve human health.

We are pleased to invite you to contribute to this Special Issue dedicated to honoring the figure of Prof. Wahli in the field of PPARs by submitting original and review articles focused on the latest developments in the regulation and functions of these nuclear receptors.

We look forward to receiving your contributions. 

Dr. Hervé Guillou
Prof. Dr. Manuel Vázquez-Carrera
Guest Editors

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• PPAR
• nuclear receptors
• metabolism
• cancer
• inflammation
• pharmacology
• toxicology