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The Role of Lipids in Health and Diseases

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Biochemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2025 | Viewed by 4894

Special Issue Editor

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Lipids are vital components of cell membranes and serve as crucial energy sources. Beyond these foundational roles, they are integral to numerous physiological and pathophysiological processes. Lipids act as signaling molecules in inflammation and immune responses, and they are involved in key cellular functions such as division, growth, migration, and apoptosis. Our understanding of how different lipid types influence health and disease is rapidly expanding. This Special Issue of IJMS will showcase the latest research on lipid functions in both health and disease, focusing on the molecular mechanisms underlying their effects. We welcome articles that explore the physiological and pathophysiological roles of lipids in conditions such as cardiovascular disease, neurological disease, metabolic disease, cancer, aging, inflammation, immunity, etc. Both original research and review articles are invited.

Dr. Yutang Wang
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • lipids
  • triglycerides
  • phospholipids
  • cholesterol
  • sphingolipids
  • steroids
  • fatty acids
  • lipid metabolism

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 49683 KiB  
Article
Niemann-Pick C-like Endolysosomal Dysfunction in DHDDS Patient Cells, a Congenital Disorder of Glycosylation, Can Be Treated with Miglustat
by Hannah L. Best, Sophie R. Cook, Helen Waller-Evans and Emyr Lloyd-Evans
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(4), 1471; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26041471 - 10 Feb 2025
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Abstract
DHDDS (dehydrodolichol diphosphate synthetase) and NgBR (Nogo-B Receptor) collectively form an enzymatic complex important for the synthesis of dolichol, a key component of protein N-glycosylation. Mutations in DHDDS and the gene encoding NgBR (NUS1) are associated with neurodevelopmental disorders that clinically present [...] Read more.
DHDDS (dehydrodolichol diphosphate synthetase) and NgBR (Nogo-B Receptor) collectively form an enzymatic complex important for the synthesis of dolichol, a key component of protein N-glycosylation. Mutations in DHDDS and the gene encoding NgBR (NUS1) are associated with neurodevelopmental disorders that clinically present with epilepsy, motor impairments, and developmental delay. Previous work has demonstrated both DHDDS and NgBR can also interact with NPC2 (Niemann-Pick C (NPC) type 2), a protein which functions to traffic cholesterol out of the lysosome and, when mutated, can cause a lysosomal storage disorder (NPC disease) characterised by an accumulation of cholesterol and glycosphingolipids. Abnormal cholesterol accumulation has also been reported in cells from both individuals and animal models with mutations in NUS1, and suspected lipid storage has been shown in biopsies from individuals with mutations in DHDDS. Our findings provide further evidence for overlap between NPC2 and DHDDS disorders, showing that DHDDS patient fibroblasts have increased lysosomal volume, store cholesterol and ganglioside GM1, and have altered lysosomal Ca2+ homeostasis. Treatment of DHDDS cells, with the approved NPC small molecule therapy, miglustat, improves these disease-associated phenotypes, identifying a possible therapeutic option for DHDDS patients. These data suggest that treatment options currently approved for NPC disease may be translatable to DHDDS/NUS1 patients. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Lipids in Health and Diseases)
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Review

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19 pages, 742 KiB  
Review
The Multifaceted Impact of Bioactive Lipids on Gut Health and Disease
by Joseph P. Sullivan and Melissa K. Jones
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(24), 13638; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms252413638 - 20 Dec 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1617
Abstract
Bioactive lipids have a multifaceted role in health and disease and are recognized to play an important part in gut immunity and disease conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease and colon cancer. Advancements in lipidomics, enabled by mass spectrometry and chromatographic techniques, have [...] Read more.
Bioactive lipids have a multifaceted role in health and disease and are recognized to play an important part in gut immunity and disease conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease and colon cancer. Advancements in lipidomics, enabled by mass spectrometry and chromatographic techniques, have enhanced our understanding of lipid diversity and functionality. Bioactive lipids, including short-chain fatty acids, saturated fatty acids, omega-3 fatty acids, and sphingolipids, exhibit diverse effects on inflammation and immune regulation. Short-chain fatty acids like butyrate demonstrate anti-inflammatory properties, enhancing regulatory T cell function, gut barrier integrity, and epigenetic regulation, making them promising therapeutic targets for inflammatory bowel disease and colon cancer. Conversely, saturated fatty acids promote inflammation by disrupting gut homeostasis, triggering oxidative stress, and impairing immune regulation. Omega-3 lipids counteract these effects, reducing inflammation and supporting immune balance. Sphingolipids exhibit complex roles, modulating immune cell trafficking and inflammation. They can exert protective effects or exacerbate colitis depending on their source and context. Additionally, eicosanoids can also prevent pathology through prostaglandin defense against damage to epithelial barriers. This review underscores the importance of dietary lipids in shaping gut health and immunity and also highlights the potential use of lipids as therapeutic strategies for managing inflammatory conditions and cancer. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Lipids in Health and Diseases)
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