AUTHOR=Ma Jialing , Zeng Peng , Liu Lipei , Zhu Mengmeng , Zheng Juan , Wang Chengyi , Zhao Xiaokang , Hu Wenquan , Yang Xiaoxiao , Duan Yajun , Han Jihong , Miao Qing R. , Chen Yuanli TITLE=Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor-Gamma Reduces ER Stress and Inflammation via Targeting NGBR Expression JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pharmacology VOLUME=Volume 12 - 2021 YEAR=2022 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2021.817784 DOI=10.3389/fphar.2021.817784 ISSN=1663-9812 ABSTRACT=Previous studies have shown that increased Nogo-B receptor (NGBR) expression in the liver may improve insulin sensitivity by reducing endoplasmic reticulum stress (ER stress) and activating the AMPK pathway. In this study, we found that PPARγ ligands (rosiglitazone or pioglitazone) increased NGBR mRNA and protein expression in HepG2 cells, HUVECs, and mouse primary hepatocytes. Furthermore, promoter analysis defined two PPREs (PPARγ-responsive elements) in the region of the NGBR promoter, which was further confirmed by the ChIP assay. In vivo, using liver-specific PPARγ deficient mice, we identified the key role of PPARγ expression in pioglitazone-induced NGBR expression. Meanwhile, the basal level of ER stress and inflammation was slightly increased by NGBR knockdown. However, the inhibitory effect of rosiglitazone on inflammation was abolished while rosiglitazone-inhibited ER stress was weakened by NGBR knockdown. Taken together, the results of the present study show that NGBR is a previously unrecognized target of PPAR activation and plays an essential roles in PPARγ-reduced ER stress and inflammation.