Lipid Metabolism and Respiratory Health
Summary
Lipid metabolism encompasses the synthesis, transport and breakdown of fats and cholesterol, processes that extend beyond energy storage to include crucial roles in pulmonary structure and function. Pulmonary surfactant, rich in phospholipids, maintains alveolar stability and prevents collapse. Lipid mediators such as eicosanoids and specialised pro-resolving molecules orchestrate airway inflammation and resolution. Dysregulation of lipid handling—manifesting as altered cholesterol, triglyceride or apolipoprotein levels—has been linked to asthma severity, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) progression and heightened susceptibility to respiratory infections. In obese or metabolically impaired individuals, systemic dyslipidaemia may prime airway inflammation via oxidative stress and macrophage activation. Conversely, certain high-density lipoproteins exert anti-inflammatory effects, modulating immune cell trafficking and cytokine release. Understanding these interconnected pathways has yielded novel targets ranging from lipid-lowering agents to apolipoprotein-based therapies and dietary modifications, underscoring the global impact of metabolic health on respiratory outcomes.
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Lipid Metabolism and Respiratory Health publication trend
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Technical terms
Lipid metabolism: The ensemble of biochemical pathways responsible for the synthesis, transport and degradation of lipids in the body.
High-density lipoprotein (HDL-C): A class of cholesterol-carrying particles that promote reverse cholesterol transport and possess anti-inflammatory properties.
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C): Cholesterol-rich particles that deliver lipids to tissues and, in excess, contribute to inflammation and oxidative stress.
Triglycerides: Neutral fat molecules composed of glycerol and three fatty acids, serving as a primary energy reserve and influencing inflammatory signalling.
Apolipoproteins: Protein components of lipoprotein particles that determine lipid binding, receptor interactions and immunomodulatory functions.
Eosinophils: A type 2 immune cell subtype involved in allergic inflammation and asthma pathophysiology, whose activity may be modulated by lipid mediators.
References
- Association between Serum Lipids and Asthma in Adults—A Systematic Review. Nutrients (2024).
- High density lipoprotein-cholesterol is inversely associated with blood eosinophil counts among asthmatic adults in the USA: NHANES 2011-2018. Frontiers in Immunology (2023).
- Association between lipid-lowering drugs and allergic diseases: A Mendelian randomization study. World Allergy Organization Journal (2024).
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