The role of lipid droplets in metabolic disease in rodents and humans

Lipid droplets (LDs) are intracellular organelles that store neutral lipids within cells. Over the last two decades there has been a dramatic growth in our understanding of LD biology and, in parallel, our understanding of the role of LDs in health and disease. In its simplest form, the LD regulates the storage and hydrolysis of neutral lipids, including triacylglycerol and/or cholesterol esters. It is becoming increasingly evident that alterations in the regulation of LD physiology and metabolism influence the risk of developing metabolic diseases such as diabetes. In this review we provide an update on the role of LD-associated proteins and LDs in metabolic disease.

• AD
  American Diabetes Association
• UD
  U.S. Department of Agriculture

  Award: 58-1950-7-707
• UD
  U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
• OO
  Office of Research and Development
• UO
  University of Michigan
• NI
  National Institutes of Health

  Awards: R24DK087669, DK59935, DK56598
• AR
  Agricultural Research Service

  Award: 58-1950-7-707