Lipid droplet (LD)

Lipid droplets are ubiquitous, dynamic organelles that serve as the primary storage site for neutral lipids, such as triacylglycerols and sterol esters, within eukaryotic cells. Once considered inert fat storage sacs, they are now recognized as metabolic hubs that interact with other organelles, including the endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria, to regulate energy homeostasis and lipid signaling. They consist of a hydrophobic core surrounded by a phospholipid monolayer decorated with various proteins, most notably the perilipin family. Dysregulation of lipid droplet dynamics is a hallmark of several metabolic disorders, including obesity, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD/MASLD), and atherosclerosis, as well as certain cancers where they support rapid proliferation and stress resistance. Pharmacological targeting of lipid droplets often involves modulating the enzymes responsible for lipid synthesis (such as DGAT) or breakdown (such as ATGL), aiming to resolve pathological lipid accumulation or mobilize energy reserves in metabolic and oncological contexts.

Other names

AdiposomeOil bodySpherosomeFat bodyLipid body

Inhibition of triacylglycerol synthesis (e.g., DGAT1/2 inhibitors), modulation of lipolysis (e.g., ATGL or HSL inhibition), stimulation of lipophagy, and disruption of lipid droplet-associated protein function (e.g., Perilipin modulation).