ADRP stimulates lipid accumulation and lipid droplet formation in murine fibroblasts

1 Department of Medicine and Bioregulatory Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8582; and 2 Division of Clinical Immunology, Department of Immunobiology and Neuroscience, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, Beppu 874-0919, Japan Adipose differentiation-related protein (ADRP) is a lipid droplet-associated protein that is expressed early during adipose differentiation. The present study was undertaken to reveal the role of ADRP in adipose differentiation. In murine fibroblasts infected with green fluorescent protein (GFP)-ADRP fusion protein expression adenovirus vector, confocal microscopic analysis showed the number and size of lipid droplets apparently increased comparing with those of control cells. Overexpressed GFP-ADRP were mainly located at the surface of lipid droplets and appeared to be "ring-shaped." Triacylglycerol content was also significantly ( P