Our lab is interested in lipophagy role in physiology and disease. Particularly, we are focusing on macrophage differentiation (M1 and M2) and how lipophagy can modulate these changes. The metabolic phenotype and cytokine profile in both types of activation, M1 and M2, are quite well known. However, the molecular process that triggers the switch remains obscure. We are trying to provide insights to unravel the required molecular and cellular changes to switch from M1 to M2 macrophages, which will make an important impact in the field. Thus, it will point to novel targets to modulate immune activation, which will provide the basis for treatments for alcoholic steatohepatitis and other diseases such as non-alcoholic fatty liver, fibrosis, cirrhosis, and obesity.