Thiazolidinediones in diabetes: current status and future outlook

Abstract

Thiazolidinediones have recently emerged as promising antidiabetic drugs. Unlike other oral antidiabetic drugs, thiazolidinediones function to ameliorate insulin resistance, a primary factor for the development of type 2 diabetes. Thiazolidinediones are ligands of the nuclear receptor, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma, and their antidiabetic effects appear to be mediated by activation of this receptor. The two currently marketed thiazolidinediones, rosiglitazone and pioglitazone, display similar efficacies in their glucose lowering activities, but interestingly display slightly different clinical and side effect profiles. Understanding the molecular basis for these differences will help in the development of next generation thiazolidinediones that are more efficacious and safer for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.