Abstract

Lipid metabolism is a vital physiological process that includes the biosynthesis, absorption, transport, and elimination of lipids, playing an essential role in maintaining health and preventing obesity-related diseases. Recent findings highlighted the significance of Human antigen R (HuR), an RNA-binding protein, in regulating intestinal fat absorption and lipid homeostasis. The absence of HuR could lead to decreased expression of these enzymes, resulting in impaired dietary fat absorption and reduced risk of high-fat diet-induced Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) and obesity. Additionally, HuR influenced the expression of other lipid metabolism-related genes, suggesting its broader role in lipid regulation. In this review, we discussed the mechanisms by which HuR modulates the expression of key enzymes involved in Triacylglycerol (TAG) synthesis, specifically MGAT2 and DGAT2, in the intestinal epithelium, and emphasized the potential of HuR as a therapeutic target for obesity and related metabolic disorders, as well as its dual role in atherosclerosis progression.

Keywords: HuR; Lipid metabolism; Obesity; NAFLD; Triacylglycerol synthesis