Abstract-Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are nuclear receptors controlling lipid and glucose metabolism as well as inflammation. PPARs are expressed in macrophages, cells that also generate reactive oxygen species (ROS). In this study, we investigated whether PPARs regulate ROS production in macrophages. Different PPAR-␣, but not PPAR-␥ agonists, increased the production of ROS (H 2 O 2 and O 2 . ) in human and murine macrophages.PPAR-␣ activation did not induce cellular toxicity, but significantly decreased intracellular glutathione levels. The increase in ROS production was not attributable to inherent prooxidant effects of the PPAR-␣ agonists tested, but was mediated by PPAR-␣, because the effects were lost in bone marrow-derived macrophages from PPAR-␣ Ϫ/Ϫ mice. The PPAR-␣-induced increase in ROS was attributable to the induction of NADPH oxidase, because (1) preincubation with the NADPH oxidase inhibitor diphenyleneiodinium prevented the increase in ROS production; (2) PPAR-␣ agonists increased O 2 . production measured by superoxide dismutase-inhibitable cytochrome c reduction; (3) PPAR-␣ agonists induced mRNA levels of the NADPH oxidase subunits p47 phox , p67 phox , and gp91 phox and membrane p47 phox protein levels; and (4) induction of ROS production was abolished in p47 phoxϪ/Ϫ and gp91 phoxϪ/Ϫ macrophages. Finally, induction of NADPH oxidase by PPAR-␣ agonists resulted in the formation of oxidized LDL metabolites that exert PPAR-␣-independent proinflammatory and PPAR-␣-dependent decrease of lipopolysaccharide-induced inducible nitric oxide synthase expression in macrophages. These data identify a novel mechanism of autogeneration of endogenous PPAR-␣ ligands via stimulation of NADPH oxidase activity. Key Words: macrophages Ⅲ nuclear receptors Ⅲ NADPH oxidase Ⅲ reactive oxygen species Ⅲ inflammation P eroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ␣ (PPAR-␣) is a transcription factor belonging to the superfamily of ligandactivated nuclear receptors that heterodimerizes with the retinoid X receptor. In rodents, but not in humans, PPAR-␣ activation causes hepatomegaly attributable to parenchymal peroxisome proliferation, resulting in a marked increase in oxidative stress. 1 In humans, PPAR-␣ agonists are used for the treatment of dyslipidemia. PPAR-␣ regulates the expression of genes controlling lipid and lipoprotein metabolism and cholesterol and glucose homeostasis. PPAR-␣ activation results in decreased plasma triglyceride and small dense LDL levels and increased HDL. 2 PPAR-␣ also exerts antiinflammatory activities by transrepressing inflammatory signaling pathways. 2 PPAR-␣ is also expressed in vascular wall cells, including monocyte-derived macrophages, where it modulates cholesterol homeostasis. In macrophages, PPAR-␣ regulates the expression of the HDL receptor CLA-1/SR-B1 and the cholesterol/phospholipid transporter ABCA1. 3 Moreover, PPAR-␣ inhibits cholesterol esterification, resulting in an enhanced availability of free cholesterol for efflux through the ABCA1 pathway. 3 P...