Perilipin 5: how a fat-droplet protein helps cells sense nutrients to support healthy aging
Official title: Perilipin 5: Linking lipid droplets to nutrient sensing and healthy aging
Funded at Virginia Polytechnic Inst and St Univ · NIH-11248360 · Data updated 2026-11-12
It explores how a protein on fat droplets helps cells use fats to trigger protective signals that could keep people healthier as they age.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Virginia Polytechnic Inst and St Univ NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Blacksburg, United States) |
| Project start | February 1, 2024 |
| Project end | January 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $228,098 |
| NIH project number | 5R00AG070104-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11248360 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People interested in healthy aging, or those willing to donate adipose tissue samples or join future trials targeting fat metabolism, would be most relevant for follow-up participation.
✕Less likely to help
People seeking immediate treatments for an active illness or advanced organ failure are unlikely to receive direct clinical benefit from this basic laboratory-focused work.
What this research studies
From a patient viewpoint, scientists are studying a protein called PLIN5 that sits on fat droplets inside cells and appears to move fats into the nucleus to turn on protective programs. They will mimic fasting-like signals that break down fat and track how monounsaturated fatty acids are transported and whether they activate the aging-related enzyme SIRT1. Experiments will include changing PLIN5 levels in cells and animal models, measuring SIRT1 activity and markers of tissue health, and linking those molecular changes to known nutrient-sensing pathways. The work aims to clarify the chain from fat breakdown to cellular protection that may underlie benefits seen with calorie restriction or intermittent fasting.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could point to new ways—dietary or drug-based—to boost healthy aging by promoting beneficial fat breakdown and SIRT1 activation.
How similar studies have gone: Related studies have linked fatty acids, lipolysis, and SIRT1 to improved healthspan, but the idea that PLIN5 ferries monounsaturated fats to activate SIRT1 is a newer, less-tested mechanism.
Where this research is happening
-
Virginia Polytechnic Inst and St Univ
Blacksburg, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Najt, Charles P — Virginia Polytechnic Inst and St Univ
- Study coordinator: Najt, Charles P
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.