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Lipid droplets and steroidogenic cells.

Wen-Jun Shen1, Salman Azhar1, Fredric B Kraemer1

  • 1Division of Endocrinology, Gerontology and Metabolism, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, United States; Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA 94304, United States.

Experimental Cell Research
|December 8, 2015
PubMed
Summary

Steroidogenic tissues utilize lipid droplets (LDs) as a platform for cholesterol processing and steroid hormone production, involving key proteins like HSL and StAR for efficient lipid metabolism.

Keywords:
Adrenal glandCholesteryl estersGonadsLipid droplet proteinsPLINSteroid synthesizing enzymesSteroidogenesis

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Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Cell Biology
  • Endocrinology

Background:

  • Lipid droplets (LDs) in steroidogenic tissues possess a cholesteryl ester (CE) core and a phospholipid monolayer, distinctively smaller and more numerous than in other tissues.
  • These LDs are notably enriched with perilipins (PLIN1c, PLIN2, PLIN3) and CIDE proteins (CIDEA, CIDEB), particularly in the ovary.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of lipid droplets (LDs) in steroidogenic tissues beyond lipid storage.
  • To identify proteins associated with LDs in steroidogenic cells and elucidate their functions in lipid homeostasis and steroidogenesis.

Main Methods:

  • Proteomic analysis of LDs isolated from primary ovarian granulosa cells, MLTC-1 Leydig cells, and mouse testes.
  • Microscopy to confirm the subcellular localization of identified LD-associated proteins.

Main Results:

  • Proteomic analysis revealed LDs harbor proteins involved in lipid homeostasis and steroidogenic enzymes.
  • Microscopy confirmed the localization of many identified proteins to LDs.
  • Free cholesterol (FC) from LDs, facilitated by hormone stimulation and hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL), is crucial for steroidogenesis, with HSL, vimentin, and StAR mediating its transport to mitochondria.

Conclusions:

  • Lipid droplets in steroidogenic tissues serve as a platform for steroidogenic enzyme activity and transport of steroidogenic intermediates.
  • LDs are dynamic organelles actively involved in modulating lipid homeostasis and steroid hormone production, not just passive storage depots.