Review Volume 1, Issue 3 pp 281—288

Figure 2. Re-interpretation of the hyperlipidemic side effect of rapamycin. Rapamycin activates adipose tissue lipase, thus mobilizing lipids from the fat tissue (lipolysis). This effect imitates starvation. Also, rapamycin inhibits lipoprotein lipase thus preventing utilization of lipids by the fat tissue and blocking lipid uptake by the arterial wall. This results in increase in blood lipids.