Adipophilin, also known as ADRP or PLIN2, is a widespread component of lipid droplets. It's been detected in milk fat globule membranes and on the surface of lipid droplets in various cultured cell lines, and its expression can be induced by etomoxir. Increased expression of Adipophilin serves as a useful marker for conditions involving elevated lipid droplet accumulation, such as atheroma, steatosis, obesity, and certain liposarcomas. It also appears to be a potent marker for atherosclerosis. ADRP can be employed to study virus entry, like that of HCV, via lipid droplets.