Research Progress in Liver Lipophagy
ZHANG Xiaolin, LI Yuli, YANG Qidi, ZHOU You, YU Feier, YANG Jie*
Autophagy is an intracellular degradation process that breaks down the organelles and proteins through the lysosomes, contributing to the maintenance of intracellular homeostasis and cell renewal. Lipophagy, discovered in the past decade, is a type of selective autophagy targeting lipid droplets. Lipophagy has been found in multiple cell types, especially in liver cells. This article reviews recent studies on the mechanisms and implications of lipophagy in hepatocytes and hepatic stellate cells. The metabolic enzymes, membrane proteins and transcription factors that related with lipophagy are summarized in this review. Additionally, physiological significance of lipophagy in lipid metabolism and cell survival and its pathological role in liver diseases such as fatty liver, cirrhosis and liver cancer are also discussed. This review provides reference for further study in the molecular mechanisms, biological significance and potential therapeutic significance of lipophagy.
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