Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Publication Date

1-10-2025

Journal

Science

DOI

10.1126/science.ads9960

PMID

39787221

PMCID

PMC12279017

PubMedCentral® Posted Date

1-10-2026

PubMedCentral® Full Text Version

Post-print

Abstract

Conventionally, the size, shape, and biomechanics of cartilages are determined by their voluminous extracellular matrix. By contrast, we found that multiple murine cartilages consist of lipid-filled cells called lipochondrocytes. Despite resembling adipocytes, lipochondrocytes were molecularly distinct and produced lipids exclusively through de novo lipogenesis. Consequently, lipochondrocytes grew uniform lipid droplets that resisted systemic lipid surges and did not enlarge upon obesity. Lipochondrocytes also lacked lipid mobilization factors, which enabled exceptional vacuole stability and protected cartilage from shrinking upon starvation. Lipid droplets modulated lipocartilage biomechanics by decreasing the tissue's stiffness, strength, and resilience. Lipochondrocytes were found in multiple mammals, including humans, but not in nonmammalian tetrapods. Thus, analogous to bubble wrap, superstable lipid vacuoles confer skeletal tissue with cartilage-like properties without "packing foam-like" extracellular matrix.

Keywords

Animals, Humans, Mice, Adipocytes, Biomechanical Phenomena, Cartilage, Extracellular Matrix, Lipid Droplets, Lipid Metabolism, Lipogenesis, Obesity, Vacuoles

Published Open-Access

yes

Download

Share

COinS
 
 

To view the content in your browser, please download Adobe Reader or, alternately,
you may Download the file to your hard drive.

NOTE: The latest versions of Adobe Reader do not support viewing PDF files within Firefox on Mac OS and if you are using a modern (Intel) Mac, there is no official plugin for viewing PDF files within the browser window.