About this Research Topic
The high levels of lipids as a consequence of obesity are risk factors for the development of different diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative disorders. Lipotoxicity is associated with the altered metabolism and function of different organs, including heart, skeletal muscles, liver, kidney, pancreas, and brain. Despite the achievements in modern medicine, worldwide the incidence of lipotoxicity-related disorders is growing, and metabolic disorders are associated with more than 60% of deaths. Thus, prevention of lipotoxicity remains one of the challenges in modern society to promote healthy aging and improve outcomes of metabolic disorders.
One of the lipotoxicity-induced mechanisms of pathogenesis has been related to the alteration in mitochondrial functionality. However, despite the decades spent on lipotoxicity research, it is still unclear which kind of lipids and fatty acids are the main players in lipotoxicity and how they contribute to the alterations in mitochondrial function. Moreover, the potential benefits and druggability of strategies for treatment of lipotoxicity-related disorders, targeting lipid/fatty acid metabolism or mitochondria, need to be investigated. Overall, the understanding of molecular mechanisms behind lipotoxicity-related cellular and mitochondrial functional alterations could serve as a basis for the identification of druggable strategies. The goal of this research topic is to identify potential metabolic checkpoints in the lipotoxicity-induced cellular dysfunction and promote novel drug targets for the prevention and treatment of lipotoxicity.
We welcome the submission of Original Research articles, Perspectives, and Reviews on the following, but not limited to, topics below:
- how lipotoxicity contributes to altered mitochondrial function;
- how mitochondria are affected during the development of lipotoxicity;
- how different lipids and fatty acids affect cellular and mitochondrial functions and contribute to lipotoxicity;
- what is the impact of lipotoxicity and mitotoxicity in tissue cross-talk;
- what are potential drug targets to protect cells against lipotoxicity and support mitochondrial function, thus, attenuating the development and improving the outcome of lipotoxicity-related disorders.
One of the lipotoxicity-induced mechanisms of pathogenesis has been related to the alteration in mitochondrial functionality. However, despite the decades spent on lipotoxicity research, it is still unclear which kind of lipids and fatty acids are the main players in lipotoxicity and how they contribute to the alterations in mitochondrial function. Moreover, the potential benefits and druggability of strategies for treatment of lipotoxicity-related disorders, targeting lipid/fatty acid metabolism or mitochondria, need to be investigated. Overall, the understanding of molecular mechanisms behind lipotoxicity-related cellular and mitochondrial functional alterations could serve as a basis for the identification of druggable strategies. The goal of this research topic is to identify potential metabolic checkpoints in the lipotoxicity-induced cellular dysfunction and promote novel drug targets for the prevention and treatment of lipotoxicity.
We welcome the submission of Original Research articles, Perspectives, and Reviews on the following, but not limited to, topics below:
- how lipotoxicity contributes to altered mitochondrial function;
- how mitochondria are affected during the development of lipotoxicity;
- how different lipids and fatty acids affect cellular and mitochondrial functions and contribute to lipotoxicity;
- what is the impact of lipotoxicity and mitotoxicity in tissue cross-talk;
- what are potential drug targets to protect cells against lipotoxicity and support mitochondrial function, thus, attenuating the development and improving the outcome of lipotoxicity-related disorders.
Keywords: Lipids, Fatty acid metabolism, Mitochondrial dysfunction, Cellular mechanism, Drug targets.
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
