The heart requires fatty acids to maintain its activity. Various mechanisms regulate myocardial fatty acid metabolism, such as energy production using fatty acids as fuel, for which it is known that coordinated control of fatty acid uptake, β-oxidation, and mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation steps are important for efficient adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production without unwanted side effects. The fatty acids taken up by cardiomyocytes are not only used as substrates for energy production but also for the synthesis of triglycerides and the replacement reaction of fatty acid chains in cell membrane phospholipids. Alterations in fatty acid metabolism affect the structure and function of the heart. Recently, breakthrough studies have focused on the key transcription factors that regulate fatty acid metabolism in cardiomyocytes and the signaling systems that modify their functions. In this article, we reviewed the latest research on the role of fatty acid metabolism in the pathogenesis of heart failure and provide an outlook on future challenges.
Keywords: ER stress; ERR; MUFA; PPAR; SCD1; SFA; SIRT1; membrane fatty acid composition; triacylglyceride; β-oxidation.