Lipid Droplet Biology in Obesity: Mechanisms of Lipid Storage and Mobilization in Metabolic Disease

Kibibi Wairimu H.

School of Natural and Applied Sciences Kampala International University Uganda

ABSTRACT

Lipid droplets (LDs) are dynamic organelles that play a central role in lipid storage and mobilization, particularly in the context of metabolic diseases like obesity. Obesity is characterized by excessive accumulation of triglycerides within adipocytes, leading to metabolic dysregulation and associated comorbidities such as insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. This review explores the biology of lipid droplets in the setting of obesity, focusing on the mechanisms of lipid storage and mobilization. We discuss the key regulatory proteins involved in LD formation and degradation, including perilipins, adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL), and hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL). Additionally, the roles of lipophagy, autophagy, and lipolysis in lipid mobilization are explored. We also highlight how dysregulation of lipid droplet biology contributes to obesity-related metabolic disorders, with emphasis on the impact of lipid droplet dysfunction on cellular signaling, lipid metabolism, and inflammation. Finally, we discuss the potential of targeting LDs as a therapeutic strategy for treating obesity and its metabolic complications.

Keywords: Lipid droplets, Obesity, Lipid storage, Lipid mobilization, Metabolic disease, Lipolysis, Lipophagy, Triglycerides

CITE AS: Kibibi Wairimu H. (2024). Lipid Droplet Biology in Obesity: Mechanisms of Lipid Storage and Mobilization in Metabolic Disease. INOSR Experimental Sciences 14(1):6-10.                                                                                   https://doi.org/10.59298/INOSRES/2024/141.61000