Endothelial lipid droplets drive atherosclerosis and arterial hypertension.

Lipid droplets (LDs) are essential for cellular pathophysiology. In two recent reports, Kim et al. and Boutagy et al. show that accumulation of LDs in endothelial cells (ECs) elevates blood pressure and accelerates progression of atherosclerosis. These findings identify a novel mechanism of EC lipid metabolism which drives cardiometabolic diseases. Lipid droplets (LDs) are essential for cellular pathophysiology. In two recent reports, Kim et al. and Boutagy et al. show that accumulation of LDs in endothelial cells (ECs) elevates blood pressure and accelerates progression of atherosclerosis. These findings identify a novel mechanism of EC lipid metabolism which drives cardiometabolic diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]