부산대학교 도서관

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is defined by the presence of lipid droplets (LDs). Long thought to be inert energy storage depots, LDs are increasingly recognized as dynamic organelles that play key roles in linking changes in lipid metabolism and energy status to cell signaling and function. Despite their important roles, we are just beginning to identify proteins that reside on LDs and their biological functions. To date, the few LD proteins that have been characterized to any substantial degree affect a wide range of processes including energy metabolism, inflammation and NAFLD development and progression. Moreover, the expression level or mutations in specific LD proteins, such as PNPLA3, are known to robustly increase NAFLD risk. This presentation will overview our current understanding of hepatic LD proteins that may contribute to NAFLD etiology and their potential as therapeutic targets.