Lipid rafts have significant clinical implications:
1. Cancer: Alterations in lipid raft composition and function have been linked to cancer. Changes in the lipid and protein content of rafts can affect cell signaling pathways that control cell growth and survival.
2. Neurodegenerative Diseases: Lipid rafts are involved in the processing and trafficking of proteins implicated in neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease. Disruption of raft integrity can influence the aggregation of amyloid-beta peptides.
3. Infectious Diseases: Understanding how pathogens exploit lipid rafts can lead to the development of therapeutic strategies to block infection. Antiviral and antibacterial agents targeting raft-associated entry mechanisms are areas of active research.