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Review
. 2013 Jul;5(7):973-83.
doi: 10.1002/emmm.201100671. Epub 2013 Jun 6.

Balancing the fat: lipid droplets and human disease

Natalie Krahmer  1 , Robert V Farese Jr, Tobias C Walther
Affiliations
Review

Balancing the fat: lipid droplets and human disease

Natalie Krahmer et al. EMBO Mol Med. 2013 Jul.

Abstract

Lipid droplets (LDs) are dynamic, cytosolic lipid-storage organelles found in nearly all cell types. Too many or too few LDs during excess or deficient fat storage lead to many different human diseases. Recent insights into LD biology and LD protein functions shed new light on mechanisms underlying those metabolic pathologies. These findings will likely provide opportunities for treatment of diseases associated with too much or too little fat.

Keywords: atherosclerosis; lipid droplet; lipodystrophy; metabolic syndrome; triglyceride storage.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. The balance of fat is important for human health
Within the human population, too much or too little body fat results in different monogenic or polygenic pathologies. Human genes that are linked to these extremes of body fat and LD storage are shown and are discussed in the text.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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