The role of lipids in the pathogenesis of lateral amyotrophic sclerosis

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is an incurable neurodegenerative disease characterized by selective degeneration of motor neurons of the motor cortex, brain stem and brain stem. Mutations in genes coding for SOD1, C9ORF72, TDP-43, FUS and others are associated with ALS and result in abnormal processing and transport of RNA as well as changes in the dynamics of cytoskeleton. In addition, a sharp change in the metabolism of various lipid classes, including phospholipids, fatty acids, sphingolipids, etc., was detected. This review describes changes in lipid content and activity of enzymes involved in their metabolism in ALS animal models as well as in patients. Changes in the metabolism of fatty acids, phospholipids, cholesterol and its derivatives are reviewed in detail. The prospects of searching for new drugs among modulators of lipid metabolism enzymes are discussed.