Gastrointestinal factors regulating lipid droplet formation in the intestine

Cytoplasmic lipid droplets (CLD) are considered as neutral lipid reservoirs, which protect cells from lipotoxicity. It became clear that these fascinating dynamic organelles play a role not only in energy storage and metabolism, but also in cellular lipid and protein handling, inter-organelle communication, and signaling among diverse functions. Their dysregulation is associated with multiple disorders, including obesity, liver steatosis and cardiovascular diseases. The central aim of this review is to highlight the link between intra-enterocyte CLD dynamics and the formation of chylomicrons, the main intestinal dietary lipid vehicle, after overviewing the morphology, molecular composition, biogenesis and functions of CLD.