A special section entitled Therapeutic Implications for Sphingolipids in Health and Disease is expected to be published in the January 2024 issue of Molecular Pharmacology. 

Research approaches are welcomed and considered for publication, including: 

• Original research pertaining to novel inhibitors and drugs targeting sphingolipid metabolism in disease, as well as novel roles for sphingolipids in therapeutic responses; 

• Manuscripts describing efforts in demonstrating the efficacy of novel sphingolipid inhibitors, as well as their emerging functional role as targets to treat human disease; 

• Research papers describing innovative in vitro/ex vivo/in vivo, bioanalytical, -omics, modeling, and/or clinical research approaches; and 

• Approaches that advance the understanding of the sphingolipids as novel targets or describing their function in therapeutic responses.

Lipid droplets are conserved, dynamic, and multifunctional sub-cellular structures. They are now recognised as a distinct organelle that communicates dynamically with other organelles and are a vital hub of cellular metabolism, with key functions in mediating homeostasis and signalling, and in preventing oxidative stress. Lipid droplets are composed of a core of neutral lipids encased by a monolayer phospholipid membrane and a coat of associated proteins. Dysregulation of lipid droplet life cycle and physiological functions have been associated with human diseases including cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, obesity, steatosis, neurological, oncological and renal disorders. A detailed understanding of mechanisms controlling the formation, interactions and signalling mechanisms of lipid droplets will help clarify the pathogenesis of these diseases. This 

Collection welcomes articles that offer insights into the biogenesis of lipid droplets and advances our understanding of lipid signalling in human disease, including work presenting new tools for labelling lipid droplets to visualise their intracellular dynamics.