Lipids play an important role in the central nervous system (CNS). They contribute to the structural integrity and physical characteristics of cell and organelle membranes, act as bioactive signalling molecules, and are utilised as fuel sources for mitochondrial metabolism. The intricate homeostatic mechanisms underpinning lipid handling and metabolism across two major CNS cell types; neurons and astrocytes, are integral for cellular health and maintenance. Here, we explore the various roles of lipids in these two cell types. Given that changes in lipid metabolism have been identified in a number of neurodegenerative diseases, we also discuss changes in lipid handling and utilisation in the context of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), in order to identify key cellular processes affected by the disease, and inform future areas of research.

脂质在中枢神经系统 (CNS) 中发挥重要作用。它们有助于细胞和细胞器膜的结构完整性和物理特性，充当生物活性信号分子，并被用作线粒体代谢的燃料来源。支持两种主要 CNS 细胞类型的脂质处理和代谢的复杂稳态机制；神经元和星形胶质细胞是细胞健康和维持不可或缺的组成部分。在这里，我们探讨了脂质在这两种细胞类型中的各种作用。鉴于已在许多神经退行性疾病中发现脂质代谢的变化，我们还讨论了肌萎缩侧索硬化 (ALS) 背景下脂质处理和利用的变化，以确定受疾病影响的关键细胞过程，并告知未来的研究领域。