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Updated: Sep 24, 2025
09:41
Measuring the Rate of Lipolysis in Ex Vivo Murine Adipose Tissue and Primary Preadipocytes Differentiated In Vitro
Published on: March 17, 2023
3.1K
Sphingolipids in Adipose: Kin or Foe?
Yolander Valentine1, L Ashley Cowart2,3
1C. Kenneth and Dianne Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Research, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.
Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology
|May 3, 2022
Summary
Sphingolipids regulate metabolic homeostasis, and their altered levels are linked to obesity and metabolic disease. Further research is needed to understand specific sphingolipid functions for therapeutic development.
Area of Science:
- Metabolic research
- Adipose tissue biology
- Lipid metabolism
Background:
- Obesity research now includes adipose tissue function beyond mass.
- Sphingolipids are key regulators of metabolic homeostasis.
- Disrupted sphingolipid levels are associated with metabolic diseases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the role of sphingolipids in adipose tissue function.
- To highlight the link between sphingolipid profiles and obesity.
- To emphasize the need for specific lipid function identification for therapeutic targeting.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing mouse models and human studies on sphingolipids and obesity.
- Analysis of data on sphingolipid roles in endocrine function and thermogenesis.
- Synthesis of current knowledge on sphingolipid metabolism in adipose tissue.
Main Results:
- Sphingolipids play critical roles in regulating metabolic homeostasis.
- Both beneficial and detrimental effects of sphingolipids in adipose tissue have been observed in mouse models.
- Human studies indicate that obesity significantly alters circulating sphingolipid profiles.
Conclusions:
- Sphingolipids are crucial in metabolic homeostasis and adipose tissue function.
- Understanding specific sphingolipid functions is essential for developing obesity treatments.
- Targeting sphingolipids holds therapeutic potential for obesity and related disorders.
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