Lipid Droplets and Mitochondria in Metabolic Diseases

The prevalence of metabolic diseases including diabetes, obesity, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has increased rapidly worldwide. Lipid droplets and mitochondria are metabolic hubs in oxidative tissues and organs. Isolation of lipid droplets and microscopic observations revealed a close relationship of lipid droplets with mitochondria. Fatty acids are stored in neutral lipids such as triglycerides in lipid droplets, which are liberated into the cytoplasm as free fatty acids and used by mitochondria for fatty acid oxidation. Recent studies report that proteins such as PLIN5, MFN2-PLIN1, DGAT2, MIGA2, and RAB18-NRZ/SNARE can anchor mitochondria to the lipid droplet membrane to regulate triacylglycerol turnover, fatty acied oxidation and mitochondria respiration. Therefore, dysregulation of lipid droplets can cause mitochondrial dysfunction, lipotoxicity, and related metabolic diseases.

The Research Topic aims to carry out paradigm-shifting research in the metabolic fields of obesity, diabetes, and NAFLD with a focus on lipid droplets and mitochondria functions; explore the fundamental mechanism of the molecular basis of lipid droplet homeostasis and their relationship to mitochondrial function in metabolic active tissues and organs such as liver, adipose tissue, muscle; understand the roles and regulation of mitochondrial tethering to lipid droplets. The further goal is to identify new potential targets and bring treatments for fighting these metabolic diseases.

We welcome studies investigating the lipid dysregulation from inter-organellar interaction (such as mitochondria-lipid droplet) and interorgan communication through the following aspects but not limited to:
• Molecular and biochemical tools
• Primary cultured cells
• Genetically engineered mouse models and human samples