News
6 September, 2024
Toxic lipid and diseases’ link
An international research team led by Monash University has uncovered a new mechanism by which metabolic diseases such as obesity, fatty liver disease, and type 2 diabetes (T2D) may develop.
The team identified a toxic lipid, ‘C16 ceramide,’ produced in the gut in response to high-fat diets.
This lipid is then exported via the lymphatic system, contributing to various health issues.
“C16 ceramide is directly linked to fatty liver disease and T2D,” explained Dr. Sarah Turpin-Nolan from the Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (MIPS).
“Our study reveals that this toxic lipid increases with fat in the gut, making it available to be transported to metabolic organs like the liver.”
The discovery opens new avenues for drug development, targeting C16 ceramide to prevent it from leaving the gut and triggering metabolic diseases.
The study also uncovered a broader range of lipid species in the gut, providing new insights into lipid behaviour and transport in the body.
“This information supports the development of an updated model for how lipids are generated and transported from the gut,” said co-senior author Professor Mark Febbraio, Head of the Cellular and Molecular Metabolism Laboratory at MIPS.
The findings, published in Science Advances, pave the way for further research into medicines that could reduce harmful lipid accumulation in metabolic organs, potentially treating conditions like obesity and fatty liver disease
