In a new study we provide multiple lines of evidence that the lysosomal integral membrane protein type 2 (LIMP-2/SCARB2) participates in lipid transport from lysosomes by transporting cholesterol (and possibly also other lipid species) through its luminal cavity to the lysosomal membrane.

Our experiments support a fundamental physiological role of LIMP-2 in lipid transport alongside the known NPC1 and NPC2 pathways. Our results may help direct the development of drugs that can enhance lipid recycling out of the lysosome and/or alleviate the negative consequences of lipidoses.

This study is a nice example of a successful collabporative effort with experiments performed in Canada (S. Grinstein), China (D. Neculai) and Europe (E.Ikonen, P. Saftig).

Suggested reading:

Heybrock S, Kanerva K, Meng Y, Ing C, Liang A, Xiong ZJ, Weng X, Ah Kim Y, Collins R, Trimble W, Pomès R, Privé GG, Annaert W, Schwake M, Heeren J, Lüllmann-Rauch R, Grinstein S, Ikonen E, Saftig P, Neculai D. (2019)
Lysosomal integral membrane protein-2 (LIMP-2/SCARB2) is involved in lysosomal cholesterol export.
Nat Commun.10(1):3521.