PLIN2 (ADFP, Adipophilin) belongs to the perilipin family, members of which coat intracellular lipid storage droplets. This protein is associated with the lipid globule surface membrane material, and maybe involved in the development and maintenance of adipose tissue. It is found in the cytoplasm and membrane of a wide range of cultured cell lines and tissues, including fibroblasts, endothelial and epithelial cells, lactating mammary glands, the adrenal cortex, Sertoli and Leydig cells, and hepatocytes in alcoholic liver cirrhosis. Higher levels of PLIN 2 are associated with diabetes, atherosclerosis, sarcopenia, cardiovascular diseases, atherosclerosis, as well as lung, colorectal and Burkitt cancer. In clear cell renal cell carcinoma, high levels of PLIN2 are associated with survival and it is a potential prognostic marker for the disease. In immunohistochemistry, it is considered a useful marker of cytoplasmic lipids, sebocytes, and lipid accumulation, and can be used to identify sebaceous lesions and carcinomas. References: Journal of Lipid Research. 1997. 38 (11): 2249–63, PMID: 9392423; Trends Endocrinol Metab. 2016 Dec;27(12):893-903, PMID: 27659144; Intl J Clin Exp Med. 2014. 7 (4): 1190–6, PMID: 24955208; Int J Oncol. 2018 Jul; 53(1): 137–147, PMID: 29749470