Lipid droplets disrupt mechanosensing in human hepatocytes
LiKang Chin, Neil D. Theise, Abigail E. Loneker, Paul A. Janmey, Rebecca G. Wells
2020American Journal of Physiology-Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology39 citationsDOIOpen Access PDF
Abstract
This work examines the impact of lipid loading on mechanosensing by human hepatocytes. In cirrhotic livers, the presence of large (although not small) lipid droplets increased nuclear localization of the mechanotransducer YAP. In primary hepatocytes in culture, lipid droplets led to decreased stiffness-induced cell spreading and disrupted focal adhesions and stress fibers; the presence of large lipid droplets resulted in increased YAP nuclear localization. Collectively, the data suggest that lipid droplets induce intracellular mechanical stress.
Topics & Concepts
Lipid dropletIntracellularCell biologyLipid accumulationLipid metabolismChemistryBiophysicsFocal adhesionCellBiologyBiochemistryCellular Mechanics and InteractionsHippo pathway signaling and YAP/TAZMicrotubule and mitosis dynamics