過氧小體增殖活化受體 (PPARs) 屬於核激素受體超級家族的成員，PPARs主要的生理作用，包括脂質代謝、發炎機制、胰島素敏感性與細胞增殖/分化等。證據顯示，PPARs與冠心病之間有相當的因果關係；藉由減低循環系發炎反應，PPARs激活劑能明確地改善動脈粥樣硬化的病程，同時顯著地降低心血管事故。 PPARs激活劑雖有益於血脂異常與胰島素敏感性改善，然而對於罹患鬱血性心衰竭的特定族群病人，則需謹慎使用。儘管PPARs激活劑的心血管安全性，受到日益增多的質疑，但無論如何，多瞭解發炎反應、動脈粥樣硬化與 PPARs之間細胞生理及新陳代謝作用的關聯性，對於冠心病的預防與治療，是有正面的意義。

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors(PPARs) are members of the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily. PPARs play an important role in biological functions including lipid metabolism, inflammatory signaling, insulin sensitivity, and cell proliferation/differentiation. Growing evidence points to a causative relationship between PPARs and coronary heart disease (CHD). It is known that PPAR activators improve key surrogate markers of the atherosclerotic process and significantly lower the incidence of cardiovascular events by reducing circulation inflammatory status. Although PPAR activators are beneficial for the treatment of dyslipidemia and insulin sensitivity, it has been noted that there are some limitations in a population prone to congestive heart failure (CHF). There are increasing challenges of the cardiovascular safety associated with PPAR activators treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). A better understanding of diverse range of physiological and metabolic processes and the relationship among inflammation, atherosclerosis, and PPARs may be helpful in elucidating more preventive avenues to manage CHD.