Abstract
Aims
Lipodystrophy is a rare disorder characterised by abnormal or deficient adipose tissue formation and distribution. It poses significant challenges to affected individuals, including development of severe metabolic complications like diabetes and fatty liver disease. These conditions are often chronic, debilitating, and life-threatening, with limited treatment options and a lack of specialised expertise. This review aims to raise awareness of lipodystrophy disorders and highlight therapeutic strategies to restore adipose tissue functionality.
Methods
Extensive research has been conducted, including both historical and recent advances. We have examined and summarised the literature to provide an overview of potential strategies to restore adipose tissue functionality and treat/reverse metabolic complications in lipodystrophy disorders.
Results
A wealth of basic and clinical research has investigated various therapeutic approaches for lipodystrophy. These include ground-breaking methods such as adipose tissue transplantation, innovative leptin replacement therapy, targeted inhibition of lipolysis, and cutting-edge gene and cell therapies. Each approach shows great potential in addressing the complex challenges posed by lipodystrophy.
Conclusions
Lipodystrophy disorders require urgent attention and innovative treatments. Through rigorous basic and clinical research, several promising therapeutic strategies have emerged that could restore adipose tissue functionality and reverse the severe metabolic complications associated with this condition. However, further research and collaboration between researchers, clinicians, patient advocacy groups, and pharmaceutical companies, will be crucial in transforming these scientific breakthroughs into effective and viable treatment options for individuals and families affected by lipodystrophy. Fostering such interdisciplinary partnerships could pave the way for a brighter future for those battling this debilitating disorder.
Lipodystrophy is a rare disorder characterised by abnormal or deficient adipose tissue formation and distribution. It poses significant challenges to affected individuals, including development of severe metabolic complications like diabetes and fatty liver disease. These conditions are often chronic, debilitating, and life-threatening, with limited treatment options and a lack of specialised expertise. This review aims to raise awareness of lipodystrophy disorders and highlight therapeutic strategies to restore adipose tissue functionality.
Methods
Extensive research has been conducted, including both historical and recent advances. We have examined and summarised the literature to provide an overview of potential strategies to restore adipose tissue functionality and treat/reverse metabolic complications in lipodystrophy disorders.
Results
A wealth of basic and clinical research has investigated various therapeutic approaches for lipodystrophy. These include ground-breaking methods such as adipose tissue transplantation, innovative leptin replacement therapy, targeted inhibition of lipolysis, and cutting-edge gene and cell therapies. Each approach shows great potential in addressing the complex challenges posed by lipodystrophy.
Conclusions
Lipodystrophy disorders require urgent attention and innovative treatments. Through rigorous basic and clinical research, several promising therapeutic strategies have emerged that could restore adipose tissue functionality and reverse the severe metabolic complications associated with this condition. However, further research and collaboration between researchers, clinicians, patient advocacy groups, and pharmaceutical companies, will be crucial in transforming these scientific breakthroughs into effective and viable treatment options for individuals and families affected by lipodystrophy. Fostering such interdisciplinary partnerships could pave the way for a brighter future for those battling this debilitating disorder.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | e15214 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Journal | Diabetic Medicine |
| Volume | 40 |
| Issue number | 12 |
| Early online date | 3 Sept 2023 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Dec 2023 |
Bibliographical note
AcknowledgementsThe authors would like to acknowledge funding provided by Diabetes UK (RD Lawrence Fellowship, 21/0006280) to G.D.M and the University of Aberdeen Doctoral Training Grant to M.T. The manuscript figure was created with BioRender.com.
Keywords
- Lipodystrophy
- Rare disorders
- Adipose transplantation
- Leptin replacement therapy
- Lipolysis
- Gene therapy
- Cell therapy
Access to Document
- Tiwari_etal_DM_From_Scarcity_To_VoR
This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited and is not used for commercial purposes. © 2023 The Authors. Diabetic Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Diabetes UK https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/