Evidence for a Novel Regulatory Interaction Involving Cyclin D1, Lipid Droplets, Lipolysis, and Cell Cycle Progression in Hepatocytes.

During normal proliferation, hepatocytes accumulate triglycerides (TGs) in lipid droplets (LDs), but the underlying mechanisms and functional significance of this steatosis are unknown. In the current study, we examined the coordinated regulation of cell cycle progression and LD accumulation. As previously shown, hepatocytes develop increased LD content after mitogen stimulation.

Caloric Restriction Prevents Carcinogen-Initiated Liver Tumorigenesis in Mice.

Caloric restriction (CR) and endurance exercise elicit wide-ranging health benefits including reduced risk of select cancers. In addition, diet composition influences oncogenesis, although its interactions with exercise and CR are not well understood. Therefore, to investigate the potential interactions between diet and lifestyle interventions on liver tumorigenesis, the carcinogen diethylnitrosamine was administered to 72 male C57Bl/6 mice that were subsequently fed diets enriched with lard (CTL) or olive oil and were further stratified to voluntary wheel running (Ex) or 30% CR for 49 weeks.

Hepatic lipid droplet biology: Getting to the root of fatty liver.

Hepatic steatosis is defined by the accumulation of lipid droplets (LDs). Once thought to be only inert energy storage depots, LDs are increasingly recognized as organelles that have important functions in hepatocytes beyond lipid storage. The lipid and protein composition of LDs is highly dynamic and influences their intrinsic metabolism and signaling properties, which ultimately links them to the changes in hepatic function.