title: De novo lipogenesis in health and disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  De novo lipogenesis (DNL) is a complex and highly regulated metabolic pathway. In normal conditions DNL converts excess carbohydrate into fatty acids that are then esterified to storage triacylglycerols (TGs). These TGs could later provide energy via β-oxidation. In human body this pathway is primarily active in liver and adipose tissue. However, it is considered to be a minor contributor to the serum lipid homeostasis. Deregulations in the lipogenic pathway are associated with diverse pathological conditions.
  
  
  METHODS
  The present review focuses on our current understanding of the lipogenic pathway with special reference to the causes and consequences of aberrant DNL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The deregulation of DNL in the major lipogenic tissues of the human body is often observed in various metabolic anomalies - including obesity, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and metabolic syndrome. In addition to that de novo lipogenesis is reported to be exacerbated in cancer tissues, virus infected cells etc. These observations suggest that inhibitors of the DNL pathway might serve as therapeutically significant compounds. The effectiveness of these inhibitors in treatment of cancer and obesity has been suggested by previous works.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  De novo lipogenesis - which is an intricate and highly regulated pathway - can lead to adverse metabolic consequences when deregulated. Therapeutic targeting of this pathway may open a new window of opportunity for combating various lipogenesis-driven pathological conditions - including obesity, cancer and certain viral infections.
authors.affiliation: Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of the Punjab, Lahore-54590, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Fatima
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ameer
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, 10461, Bronx, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Scandiuzzi
authors.affiliation: Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of the Punjab, Lahore-54590, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Shahida
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hasnain
authors.affiliation: Medical and Natural Sciences Research Centre, University of Tubingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Hubert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kalbacher
authors.affiliation: Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of the Punjab, Lahore-54590, Pakistan. Electronic address: nzzaidi@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Nousheen
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zaidi
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D057847:Lipid Regulating Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D050155:Lipogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; D009765:Obesity / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D057847:Lipid Regulating Agents
keywords: Cancer; De novo lipogenesis; Fatty Acid Synthase; Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; Obesity