Perilipin 1 Deficiency Prompts Lipolysis in Lipid Droplets and Aggravates the Pathogenesis of Persistent Immune Activation in <i>Drosophila</i>

Abstract

Lipid droplets (LDs) are highly dynamic intracellular organelles, which are involved in lots of biological processes. However, the dynamic morphogenesis and functions of intracellular LDs during persistent innate immune responses remain obscure. In this study, we induce long-term systemic immune activation in <i>Drosophila</i> through genetic manipulation. Then, the dynamic pattern of LDs is traced in the <i>Drosophila</i> fat body. We find that deficiency of Plin1, a key regulator of LDs’ reconfiguration, blocks LDs minimization at the initial stage of immune hyperactivation but enhances LDs breakdown at the later stage of sustained immune activation via recruiting the lipase Brummer (Bmm, homologous to human ATGL). The high wasting in LDs shortens the lifespan of flies with high-energy-cost immune hyperactivation. Therefore, these results suggest a critical function of LDs during long-term immune activation and provide a potential treatment for the resolution of persistent inflammation.