Molecular Mechanisms of Lipid-Based Metabolic Adaptation Strategies in Response to Cold

Cells. 2023 May 10;12(10):1353. doi: 10.3390/cells12101353.ABSTRACTTemperature changes and periods of detrimental cold occur frequently for many organisms in their natural habitats. Homeothermic animals have evolved metabolic adaptation strategies to increase mitochondrial-based energy expenditure and heat production, largely relying on fat as a fuel source. Alternatively, certain species are able to repress their metabolism during cold periods and enter a state of decreased physiological activity known as torpor. By contrast, poikilotherms, which are unable to maintain their internal temperature, predominantly increase membrane fluidity to diminish cold-related damage from low-temperature stress. However, alterations of molecular pathways and the regulation of lipid-metabolic reprogramming during cold exposure are poorly understood. Here, we review organismal responses that adjust fat metabolism during detrimental cold stress. Cold-related changes in membranes are detected by membrane-bound sensors, which signal to downstream transcriptional effectors, including nuclear hormone receptors of the PPAR (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor) subfamily. PPARs control lipid metabolic processes, such as fatty acid desaturation, lipid catabolism and mitochondrial-based thermogenesis. Elucidating the underlying molecular mechanisms of cold adaptation may improve beneficial therapeutic cold treatments and could have important implications for medical applications of hypothermia ...
Source: Cancer Control - Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Source Type: research