INSIGHT

LIPIDS IN HEALTH AND DISEASE

5 June 2014 / Vol 510 / Issue No 7503

L
ipids are small hydrophobic molecules that carry
out a multitude of crucial roles. For example, CONTENTS
they act as structural elements in biological
membranes, they store energy and they function as REVIEWS
signalling molecules in cellular response pathways. 48 Lipid landscapes and pipelines in
Disruption to their levels of expression — as occurs membrane homeostasis
in obesity, diabetes, autoimmunity or inborn errors of Joost C. M. Holthuis & Anant K. Menon
lipid metabolism — leads to dysfunction and disease in
many organs.
Cover illustration In this Insight, Joost Holthuis and Anant Menon
Jasiek Krzysztofiak begin by discussing the cellular pathways by
which eukaryotic cells maintain a variety of lipid
compositions in different organelles so that they can
carry out their specialized tasks.
Next, Michael Maceyka and Sarah Spiegel discuss
Editor, Nature the molecular mechanisms by which the metabolites
Philip Campbell
of sphingolipids exert their cell signalling and
Publishing
pathological functions.
Richard Hughes
Sphingolipid lysosomal storage disorders
Production Editor
are characterized by the accumulation of
Jenny Rooke
glycosphingolipids in the late endocytic system.
Art Editor
Frances Platt discusses insights into the cell biology
Nik Spencer
of glycosphingolipid storage disorders and the 58 Sphingolipid metabolites in
Sponsorship
development of treatments. inflammatory disease
Reya Silao
Vivian Peirce and colleagues then go on to highlight Michael Maceyka & Sarah Spiegel
Production
the biology of various types of adipose tissues, and 68 Sphingolipid lysosomal storage
Ian Pope
their therapeutic potential in metabolic disease. disorders
Marketing
The Perspective by Gerald Shulman and colleagues Frances M. Platt
Elena Woodstock
Steven Hurst
discusses the roles of hepatic lipids in non-alcoholic 76 The different shades of fat
fatty liver disease, which is now the most common liver Vivian Peirce, Stefania Carobbio &
Editorial Assistant
Abbie Williams disorder in the Western world. Antonio Vidal-Puig
Finally, Charles Serhan reviews the anti-
inflammatory and immunoregulatory actions of
omega-3-derived lipid resolving mediators and their
therapeutic potential.

Joshua Finkelstein, Marie-Thérèse Heemels,

Sadaf Shadan & Ursula Weiss PERSPECTIVE
Senior Editors 84 The role of hepatic lipids in hepatic
The Macmillan Building insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes
4 Crinan Street Rachel J. Perry, Varman T. Samuel,
London N1 9XW, UK Kitt F. Petersen & Gerald I. Shulman
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7833 4000
e: nature@nature.com
REVIEW
92 Pro-resolving lipid mediators are
leads for resolution physiology
Charles N. Serhan

5 J U N E 2 0 1 4 | VO L 5 1 0 | NAT U R E | 4 7
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