Membrane-lipid therapy: a new approach in molecular medicine

Trends Mol Med. 2006 Jan;12(1):34-43. doi: 10.1016/j.molmed.2005.11.004. Epub 2005 Dec 1.

Abstract

Although most drugs bind to proteins and regulate their activity, some drugs act through a new therapeutic approach called membrane-lipid therapy and bind to lipids, thus modulating the structure of membranes. Most cellular functions are highly dependent on the lipid environment because they are controlled by proteins in or around membranes. The wide variety of cell and organelle membranes and the existence of special lipid regions (e.g. microvilli) and domains (e.g. lipid rafts) support the possibility of designing specific lipid therapies. Indeed, recent evidence suggests that lipid therapy might have potential for the treatment of cancer, cardiovascular pathologies, neurodegenerative processes, obesity, metabolic disorders, inflammation, and infectious and autoimmune diseases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Drug Therapy
  • Humans
  • Membrane Lipids / chemistry*
  • Membrane Lipids / metabolism*
  • Models, Biological
  • Molecular Structure

Substances

  • Membrane Lipids