Abstract
Morohaku et al (1) report that the translocator protein (18-kDa) TSPO, previously known as peripheraltype benzodiazepine receptor, is not required for steroid hormone biosynthesis. The study was based on analysis of a conditional knockout of TSPO in Leydig and Sertoli cells. The findings were surprising and were coupled to a definitive statement implying that what was suggested for Leydig cells is the case for all steroid-synthesizing cells in the body (1). To understand the reported findings and place them within the context of the TSPO and steroidogenesis literature, I will try to address five questions: 1) What are the complexities of cholesterol mobilization and transport? 2) What are the data indicating that TSPO is integrally involved in steroid formation? 3) Are there limitations of the Morohaku paper? 4) Where do the discrepancies lie? and 5) Where do we go from here?
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