Lipid droplets in pathogen infection and host immunity
Yan-jie Tan1,
Yi Jin2,
Jun Zhou1,3,
Yun-fan Yang4
1 Center for Cell Structure and Function, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resistance Biology, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cell Biology in Universities of Shandong, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250014, China
2 Research Center of Translational Medicine, Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250013, China
3 State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
4 Department of Cell Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
Correspondence to: Jun Zhou: junzhou@sdnu.edu.cn, Yun-fan Yang: yunfanyang@sdu.edu.cn,
DOI: 10.1038/s41401-023-01189-1
Received: 28 June 2023
Accepted: 30 October 2023
Advance online: 22 November 2023
Abstract
As the hub of cellular lipid metabolism, lipid droplets (LDs) have been linked to a variety of biological processes. During pathogen infection, the biogenesis, composition, and functions of LDs are tightly regulated. The accumulation of LDs has been described as a hallmark of pathogen infection and is thought to be driven by pathogens for their own benefit. Recent studies have revealed that LDs and their subsequent lipid mediators contribute to effective immunological responses to pathogen infection by promoting host stress tolerance and reducing toxicity. In this comprehensive review, we delve into the intricate roles of LDs in governing the replication and assembly of a wide spectrum of pathogens within host cells. We also discuss the regulatory function of LDs in host immunity and highlight the potential for targeting LDs for the diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases.
