Molecular basis of partial lipodystrophy and prospects for therapy

Lipodystrophy is characterized by altered partition of adipose tissue. Desp ite heterogeneous causes, which include genetic, autoimmune and drug-induce d forms, lipodystrophy syndromes have similar metabolic attributes, includi ng insulin resistance, hyperlipidemia and diabetes. The mechanisms underlyi ng the insulin resistance are unknown. One form of lipodystrophy. namely Du nnigan-type familial partial lipodystrophy (FPLD) was shown to result from mutations in the LMVA gene, which encodes nuclear lamins A and C. Although the relationship between the mutations in the nuclear envelope and insulin resistance is unclear at present these findings might eventually be shown t o have relevance for the common insulin resistance syndrome and for drug-as sociated lipodystrophies.