Featured Review Cellscience Reviews Vol 4 No 2 ISSN 1742-8130

Regulation of hepatic metabolism by PGC-1 transcriptional coactivators

The liver orchestrates the body’s handling of metabolism by converting, storing, and directing fluxes of nutrients. Recently, the PGC-1 transcriptional co-activators have emerged as important regulators of metabolism in various tissues. The roles of PGC-1α and β in hepatic metabolism are reviewed here, with a focus on PGC-1α and the fed/fasted cycle. The PGC-1 family regulates hepatic gene expression programs in response to hormonal signaling, the sensing of energy status, and the modulation of feedback loops. They thereby integrate information and maintain an appropriate metabolic balance under a range of conditions. Understanding the PGC-1 pathways raises hopes for the development of novel strategies for the treatment of diabetes and other metabolic diseases.

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