Update on lipid membrane microdomains.
OBJECTIVE
Lipid membrane microdomains are involved in major types of disease, ranging from vascular and metabolic diseases to neurodegeneration, autoimmunity, infectious and inflammatory diseases, and cancer. This review provides an update of membrane microdomain abnormalities.


RESULTS
Lipid membrane microdomains are dynamic assemblies of sphingolipids, cholesterol and proteins that dissociate and associate rapidly and form functional clusters. Membrane microdomain clustering is the key to how membrane microdomains can form lipid-protein platforms in cell membranes, functioning in membrane trafficking, cell polarization and signalling. Clustering of membrane microdomains can be modified, for example by dietary lipids and pharmacological agents.


CONCLUSIONS
Metabolic overload through a cholesterol-rich and fat-rich diet can trigger metabolic learning, which is associated with membrane microdomain persistence, persistent signalling and disturbed vesicular traffic. Detailed characterization of lipid membrane microdomains and dynamics at the molecular level is necessary and will help to identify new dietary and pharmacological therapeutic targets for the treatment and prevention of lipid membrane microdomain related diseases.
Schmitz
Gerd
G
Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany. gerd.schmitz@klinik.uni-regensburg.de
Grandl
Margot
M
D000818:Animals; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D006017:Glycolipids / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008563:Membrane Lipids / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology*; D021962:Membrane Microdomains / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013107:Sphingolipids / Q000378:metabolism
D004041:Dietary Fats; D006017:Glycolipids; D008563:Membrane Lipids; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D013107:Sphingolipids; D002784:Cholesterol