bioRxiv Science⌕ Search
Home/Archive/bioRxiv

bioRxiv · 10.1101/2023.03.11.531838

RAB18 confers protection to lipid droplets from lysolipophagy and counters cellular steatosis

Rieck, A.·Guenther, G.·Hengstler, J.·Vartak, N.
View original source ↗Export metadata ↓

Abstract

Lipid droplet (LD) enlargement is the most conspicuous cellular phenotype of steatotic liver diseases such as NAFLD and NASH. The small GTPase RAB18 localizes to lipid droplets yet its effects on LD dynamics are unknown. We show that RAB18 localizes to LDs dynamically via the acylation cycle in an activity dependent manner. Removal of RAB18 from LDs through acylation cycle inhibition of RNAi-mediated downregulation leads to an increase in LD size, that can be prevented by inhibition of autophagy. We propose a model where RAB18 on LDs decreases the susceptibility of LDs to autophagy by lysosomes, allowing them to exist longer in cells and enabling an even distribution of exogenous lipid load. In the absence of RAB18, fewer LDs survive autophagic removal, and enlarge disproportionately as they absorb the incumbent exogenous lipid load on cells - leading to cellular steatosis. Inhibition of autophagy prevented cellular steatosis in primary human hepatocytes. Finally, mice treated with the autophagy inhibitor chloroquine were resistant to the development of liver steatosis when on a steatogenic diet. The modulation of RAB18 activity and autophagy inhibition represents a promising approach to prevent steatotic liver disease in the clinical setting. Graphical Abstract O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=112 SRC="FIGDIR/small/531838v1_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (52K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@57d8f8org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@165ad0aorg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@43964corg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@140746f_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG One line summaryRAB18 prevents lipid droplet autophagy to distribute lipid load in cells and prevent steatosis.

Explore related subjects

cell biologyPreprint

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

Rieck, A., Guenther, G., Hengstler, J., Vartak, N.. 2023-03-11. RAB18 confers protection to lipid droplets from lysolipophagy and counters cellular steatosis. https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.03.11.531838

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related preprints

bioRxiv2026

Nucleosome Core Allostery Governs Chromatin Recognition and Cell Fate

Nucleosomes regulate chromatin folding, accessibility, and factor recruitment. Current models primarily attribute these functions to histone tail modifications, while the core is largely viewed as a structural scaffold. Yet subtle changes within the nucleosome core can produce profound functional consequences, and the mechanisms underlying these effects remain unclear. Here, we describe nucleosome core allostery as a fundamental principle of chromatin regulation that amplifies the impact of minimal nucleosome variations. Leveraging natural differences between H2A.Z variants, we show that the nucleosome core encodes distinct conformational dynamics that propagate allosterically, thereby controlling nucleosome accessibility and recognition by chromatin factors. As a result, a single buried amino acid substitution alone is sufficient to reprogram nucleosome dynamics and bias cell identity. Our findings establish the nucleosome core as an allosteric regulatory module and provide a generalizable framework for how subtle variation within nucleosomes is amplified into diverse biological outcomes in development and disease.

cell biology↗
bioRxiv2026

SOX4 Reprograms Adipose Stromal Cells into a Cancer-Associated Fibroblast-like State to Drive Metabolic Disease

Pathogenic adipose tissue remodeling promotes metabolic disease in obesity, but the mechanisms that establish this unhealthy tissue state remain poorly understood. Here, we show that obesity drives SOX4-dependent reprogramming of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) into cancer-associated fibroblast-like (CAF-like) cells that promote adipose tissue dysfunction. TGF{beta} signaling is elevated in obesity and activates SOX4 in mouse and human MSCs, inducing their conversion to a CAF-like state. In mice, MSC-specific SOX4 activation induces the CAF-like program and exacerbates adipose tissue inflammation and glucose intolerance, whereas Sox4 deletion attenuates inflammation and improves glucose homeostasis during obesity. We further identify the growth factor Midkine (MDK) as a SOX4-regulated paracrine effector produced by CAF-like cells. MDK inhibition in obese mice reduces adipose tissue inflammation and improves metabolic function. Together, these findings define a TGF{beta}-SOX4-MDK stromal signaling axis that drives pathological adipose tissue remodeling in obesity and highlight this pathway as a potential therapeutic target for improving metabolic health.

cell biology↗
bioRxiv2026

PDLIM5 Modulates YAP1 Localisation and Fibrogenic Gene Expression in Hepatic Stellate Cells

Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are the key cellular drivers of liver fibrosis. During liver injury and chronic inflammation HSCs adopt an activated phenotype and secrete fibrotic extracellular matrix (ECM) components such as collagen 1. Mechanical cues derived from the fibrotic ECM drive and support the activation of HSCs, via mechanisms that involve integrins and the mechano-sensitive transcriptional regulator YAP1. It is not yet well understood how external mechanical cues are translated into a molecular response that alters YAP1 nuclear shuttling. There is evidence that suggests the PDZ and LIM domain protein (PDLIM) 5 can regulate YAP1 shuttling in human epithelial cells. We therefore investigated whether PDLIM5 is expressed in HSCs and contributes to YAP1 associated HSC mechano-activation. PDLIM5 protein was detected in HSCs in fibrotic human and mouse liver. PDLIM5 transcript and protein were expressed by primary human and mouse HSCs and by the immortalised HSC LX-2 cell line. PDLIM5 localised with actin stress fibres suggesting a role in HSC adhesion. Co-immunoprecipitation and proximity ligation in LX-2 cells support an association between PDLIM5 and YAP1. We used pharmacological (paclitaxel) and genetic (siRNA and CRISPRi) approaches to inhibit PDLIM5 in HSCs. Inhibiting PDLIM5 reduced YAP1 nuclear localisation and fibrotic gene (COL1A1, ACTA2) expression in LX-2 cells. Overall, these data support a role for PDLIM5 in regulating YAP1 localisation and fibrogenic gene expression in HSCs.

cell biology↗