Lipids, Hormones, and Gastric Bypass/Dr. Jiang Replies

Dietary fat profoundly affects gene expression through binding directly with transcription factors or through eicosanoid regulation of intracellular signaling cascades, which results in alterations in metabolism, growth, and cell differentiation (2). The dynamic function of lipids, lipid signaling, was well described by Piomelli (7) as having four defining features: 1 the generation of informational diversity through permutation of simple structural units; 2 the "pervasive use of serial signaling"-that is, the application of a single biochemical pathway (o multiple signaling needs; 3) the adoption of a signaling modality defined by the rapid on-demand response to primary signaling events, such as receptor activation; and 4 the localized nature of lipid-mediated signaling.