Troglitazone

Troglitazone (Rezulin, Resulin or Romozin) is an anti-diabetic and thiazolidinediones. It was introduced in the late 1990s but turned out to be associated with an idiosyncratic reaction leading to drug-induced hepatitis. It was withdrawn from the USA market on 21 March 2000, and from other markets soon afterwards.

Mode of action

Troglitazone, like the other PPARs (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors). Troglitazone is a ligand to both PPARα and - more strongly - PPARγ. Troglitazone also contains an α-tocopheroyl moiety, potentially giving it vitamin E-like activity in addition to its PPAR activation. It has been shown (Aljada et al) to reduce inflammation: troglitazone use was associated with a decrease of nuclear factor kappa-B (NFκB) and a concomitant increase in its inhibitor (IκB). NFκB is an important cellular transcription regulator for the immune response.

References

• Aljada A, Garg R, Ghanim H, et al (2001). "Nuclear factor-kappaB suppressive and inhibitor-kappaB stimulatory effects of troglitazone in obese patients with type 2 diabetes: evidence of an antiinflammatory action?". J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 86 (7): 3250–6. doi:10.1210/jc.86.7.3250. PMID 11443197.