Hepatic lipase mRNA is expressed in rat and human steroidogenic organs.

Rat and human steroidogenic organs contain an enzyme activity that is indistinguishable from hepatic lipase present in liver. Using primers that recognize exons 5 and 8 of the rat and human HL gene, a 596-bp product was found by RT-PCR in rat liver, adrenal, ovaries and testes, but not in heart and kidney. A similar product was also observed with human hyperplastic adrenocortical tissue. Identity of this product with part of the HL cDNA was confirmed by restriction mapping and internal re-amplification. Our results indicate that the HL gene is transcribed in steroidogenic tissues that also contain HL protein.