Fig. 8
From: Remodeling of lipid bodies by docosahexaenoic acid in activated microglial cells
A model of DHA-induced organelle remodeling in LPS-stimulated microglial cells. Microglia under normal physiological conditions are in the surveying state with constantly extending-retracting filopodia and such microglia have only a few lipid bodies (surveying microglia, physiological conditions). Upon exposure to pro-inflammatory agents (e.g., lipopolysaccharide (LPS) produced by Gram-negative bacteria) microglia become activated and show transiently an enhanced phagocytosis (e.g., of fluorescent beads or cellular fragments). Such highly activated state is characterized by large number of filopodia and small number of enlarged lipid bodies together with impaired mitochondrial morphology and function. During aging and protracted LPS stimulation, microglial cells gradually lose their protective phagocytic ability. DHA in LPS-hyperactivated microglia normalize the number of filopodia, morphology, and function of mitochondria and lipid bodies thereby maintaining their homeostasis. A particular feature of DHA-induced organelle remodeling is fragmentation of excessively large lipid bodies and facilitation of their association with other organelles (e.g., mitochondria)