Role of lipids in brain injury and diseases

Lipid metabolism in CNS is of particular interest because of the high concentration of lipids. The importance of lipids in cell signaling and tissue physiology is demonstrated by many CNS disorders and injuries that involve deregulated metabolism. The long-suffering lipid field is gaining reputation and respect, as evidenced through the Center of Biomedical Research Excellence in Lipidomics and Pathobiology (COBRE), Lipid MAPS (Metabolites And Pathways Strategy) Consortium sponsored by NIH, European initiatives for decoding the lipids through genomic approaches, and Genomics Of Lipid-associated Disorder (GOLD) project initiated by the Austrian government. This review attempts to provide an overview of the lipid imbalances associated with neurological disorders (Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Niemann-Pick disease, multiple sclerosis, Huntington's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, schizophrenia, bipolar disorders and epilepsy) and CNS injury (stroke, traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury), as well as a few provocative thoughts. Lipidomic analyses along with RNA silencing will provide new insights into the role of lipid intermediates in cell signaling and hopefully open new avenues for prevention or treatment options.