Abstract
Free fatty acids (FFAs) are considered the principal inducers of lipotoxicity, leading to cell dysfunction and/or cell death. Lipotoxicity in Schwann cells (SCs) damages neurons, which may be associated with peripheral neuropathies and axon degeneration. However, the molecular mechanism by which FFAs exert lipotoxicity in SCs remains to be established. In the present study, we demonstrate that palmitate exerts lipotoxicity in SCs through apoptosis and that palmitate-induced lipotoxicity in SCs is mediated through reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. We observed that the six-transmembrane protein of prostate 2 (STAMP2), which plays a pivotal role in lipid homeostasis, is expressed in SCs. We further demonstrate that palmitate induces lipoapoptosis in SCs through ROS generation-mediated STAMP2 downregulation and that STAMP2 depletion accelerates the palmitate-exerted lipoapoptosis in SCs, indicating that STAMP2 confers on SCs the ability to resist palmitate-induced lipotoxicity. In conclusion, palmitate induces lipoapoptosis in SCs through ROS generation-mediated STAMP2 downregulation. Our findings indicate that ROS and STAMP2 may represent suitable targets for pharmacological interventions targeting lipotoxicity-associated peripheral neuropathies and axon degeneration.