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Updated: Oct 4, 2025

Author Spotlight: Analysis of Fluorescent-Stained Lipid Droplets with 3D Reconstruction for Hepatic Steatosis Assessment
Published on: June 2, 2023
Adaptive and maladaptive roles of lipid droplets in health and disease
Jeffrey D Pressly1,2, Margaret Z Gurumani1,2, Javier T Varona Santos1,2
1Katz Division of Nephrology and Hypertension and Katz Family Drug Discovery Center, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida.
Abstract:
Advances in the understanding of lipid droplet biology have revealed essential roles for these organelles in mediating proper cellular homeostasis and stress response. Lipid droplets were initially thought to play a passive role in energy storage. However, recent studies demonstrate that they have substantially broader functions, including protection from reactive oxygen species, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and lipotoxicity. Dysregulation of lipid droplet homeostasis is associated with various pathologies spanning neurological, metabolic, cardiovascular, oncological, and renal diseases. This review provides an overview of the current understanding of lipid droplet biology in both health and disease.
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