Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40988015›Full record

ReviewLipids in health and disease2025

Lipid droplet dynamics in type 2 diabetes and its complications: pathophysiological insights and therapeutic options.

Caiyi Long, Zihan Li, Liangliang Jiang, Xinyu Yang, Siyu Deng, Yayi Jiang, Boxun Zhang, Rensong Yue

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Lipids in health and disease, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Review
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Caiyi Long *Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China.
Zihan Li *Shenzhen Hospital (Fu Tian) of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, China.
Liangliang JiangHospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China.
Xinyu YangChengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China.
Siyu DengChengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China.
Yayi JiangHospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China. 1261206595@qq.com.
Boxun ZhangHospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China. 1243876560@qq.com.
Rensong YueHospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China. songrenyue@cdutcm.edu.cn.

Funding

Key Research and Development Project for Cadre Healthcare of Sichuan Provincial Health Commission Sichuan Cadre Healthcare Research ZH2024-501the Joint Innovation Fund of Health Commission of Chengdu and Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine No. WXLH202402006the Major Clinical Research Program of Sichuan Provincial Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine No.2024zd007the National Natural Science Foundation of China No. 82274486
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) often exhibit dysregulated lipid metabolism, which contributes to the development and progression of complications, such as cardiomyopathy and nephropathy. Lipid droplet (LD) dynamics involve several processes, such as synthesis, lipolysis, and lipophagy. They also interact with organelles, such as the endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, and Golgi apparatus. These dynamic behaviors are essential for the maintenance of cellular energy homeostasis. Under physiological conditions, LDs in pancreatic β-cells are involved in lipid metabolism that regulates insulin secretion, while also isolating harmful lipids to protect β-cells from damage due to nutrient excess. In the adipose tissue, LDs respond to nutrient fluctuations by modulating lipolysis and releasing free fatty acids (FFAs) and glycerol. Glycerol can enter the liver for gluconeogenesis and changes in FFA levels affect systemic insulin sensitivity, thereby influencing glucose uptake by skeletal muscles and contributing to whole-body glucose homeostasis. Under pathological conditions, abnormal LD accumulation can lead to ectopic lipid deposition and lipotoxicity, exacerbating T2DM and its complications in target organs, such as the heart, kidneys, retina, and brain. Lifestyle interventions, such as diet and exercise, influence LD homeostasis in tissues affected by T2DM. Pharmacological agents, including certain antidiabetic and lipid-lowering drugs as well as bioactive natural products, have demonstrated tissue-specific regulatory effects on LD dynamics. Emerging therapeutic strategies targeting LDs, such as photodynamic therapy, gene editing, and gut microbiota modulation, are also being investigated. In summary, a deeper understanding of the physiological and pathological roles of LDs in different organs may offer targeted and integrated treatment options for T2DM and its associated complications.

Indexed as

Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2Lipid DropletsAdipose TissueAnimalsFatty Acids, NonesterifiedHumansHypoglycemic AgentsInsulin-Secreting CellsLipid MetabolismLipolysisFatty Acids, NonesterifiedHypoglycemic AgentsGlucose homeostasisLipid dropletLipotoxicityType 2 diabetes mellitus

Identifiers

PMID40988015
PMCPMC12455809

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.