Abstract
Consistent with its central importance in lipid and energy homeostasis, lipolysis occurs in essentially all tissues and cell types, including macrophages. The hydrolytic cleavage of triacylglycerol by adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) generates non-esterified fatty acids, which are subsequently used as essential precursors for lipid and membrane synthesis, mediators in cell signaling processes or as energy substrate in mitochondria. This review summarizes the current knowledge concerning the consequences of ATGL deficiency in macrophages with particular emphasis on macrophage (dys)-function, apoptosis, and atherosclerosis.
Keywords: apoptosis; lipolysis; lipotoxicity; macrophages; mouse model; triacylglycerol mobilization
Received: 2012-5-7
Accepted: 2012-5-23
Published Online: 2012-09-01
Published in Print: 2012-09-01
©2012 by Walter de Gruyter Berlin Boston
