Scientists discover HSL works in fat‑cell nucleus
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- Scientists at Université de Toulouse identified that hormone‑sensitive lipase (HSL) operates inside the nucleus of adipocytes, not just on lipid droplets.
- HSL was previously considered only a lipolytic enzyme that releases stored triglycerides during energy demand.
- HSL‑deficient mice and humans develop lipodystrophy, a rare disease marked by loss of healthy fat tissue, contradicting the expectation of obesity.
- The study was published in Cell Metabolism and explains a decades‑old paradox in obesity research.
- This nuclear role of HSL suggests new therapeutic avenues for metabolic disorders such as diabetes and heart disease.
Why it matters: Pharmaceutical firms gain a new drug target, while patients with lipodystrophy and obesity could benefit from therapies that restore HSL’s nuclear function, potentially reducing disease burden.
