Leukocyte lipid bodies regulation and function: contribution to allergy and host defense

Pharmacol Ther. 2007 Jan;113(1):30-49. doi: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2006.06.006. Epub 2006 Sep 1.

Abstract

Lipid bodies are lipid-rich organelles found in the cytoplasm of a variety of cells, including leukocytes. Lipid body morphology, its ability to interact with other organelles and its functions are dictated by its lipid arrangement, as well as its protein composition. Both may vary according to the cell type and with the specific lipid body biogenic stimulatory pathways. Nascent lipid bodies, which are formed in vivo in the course of a variety of immunopathological conditions, are sites of enzyme localization, eicosanoid production, as well as, sites for cytokine storage in inflammatory leukocytes, suggesting that lipid bodies function as inducible intracellular platforms for spatial segregation and organization of signaling leading to inflammatory mediator secretion during inflammation. The emerging role of lipid bodies as inflammatory organelles raises lipid body status to critical regulators of different inflammatory diseases, key markers of leukocyte activation and attractive targets for novel anti-inflammatory therapies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / pharmacology
  • Antibody Formation / drug effects
  • Eicosanoids / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Hypersensitivity / metabolism*
  • Immune System / drug effects
  • Immune System / metabolism*
  • Immune System Diseases / metabolism
  • Immunity, Innate / drug effects
  • Inflammation / metabolism
  • Leukocytes / drug effects
  • Leukocytes / metabolism*
  • Leukocytes / ultrastructure
  • Lipid Metabolism* / drug effects
  • Organelles / drug effects
  • Organelles / metabolism*
  • Organelles / ultrastructure
  • Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Eicosanoids
  • Proteins