Hydroxyoctadecadienoic Acids Regulate Apoptosis in Human THP‐1 Cells in a PPARγ‐Dependent Manner

Macrophage apoptosis, a key process in atherogenesis, is regulated by oxidation products, including hydroxyoctadecadienoic acids (HODEs). These stable oxidation products of linoleic acid (LA) are abundant in atherosclerotic plaque and activate PPARγ and GPR132. We investigated the mechanisms through which HODEs regulate apoptosis. The effect of HODEs on THP‐1 monocytes and adherent THP‐1 cells were compared with other C18 fatty acids, LA and α‐linolenic acid (ALA). The number of cells was reduced within 24 hours following treatment with 9‐HODE (p < 0.01, 30 μM) and 13 HODE (p < 0.01, 30 μM), and the equivalent cell viability was also decreased (p < 0.001). Both 9‐HODE and 13‐HODE (but not LA or ALA) markedly increased caspase‐3/7 activity (p < 0.001) in both monocytes and adherent THP‐1 cells, with 9‐HODE the more potent. In addition, 9‐HODE and 13‐HODE both increased Annexin‐V labelling of cells (p < 0.001). There was no effect of LA, ALA, or the PPARγ agonist rosiglitazone (1μM), but the effect of HODEs was replicated with apoptosis‐inducer camptothecin (10μM). Only 9‐HODE increased DNA fragmentation. The pro‐apoptotic effect of HODEs was blocked by the caspase inhibitor DEVD‐CHO. The PPARγ antagonist T0070907 further increased apoptosis, suggestive of the PPARγ‐regulated apoptotic effects induced by 9‐HODE. The use of siRNA for GPR132 showed no evidence that the effect of HODEs was mediated through this receptor. 9‐HODE and 13‐HODE are potent—and specific—regulators of apoptosis in THP‐1 cells. Their action is PPARγ‐dependent and independent of GPR132. Further studies to identify the signalling pathways through which HODEs increase apoptosis in macrophages may reveal novel therapeutic targets for atherosclerosis.     

Lymphatic Transport of α-Linolenic Acid and Its Conversion to Long Chain n-3 Fatty Acids in Rats Fed Microemulsions of Linseed Oil

In the present study we evaluated the uptake of ALA and its conversion to EPA + DHA in rats given linseed oil (LSO) in native form or as a microemulsion in whey protein or in lipoid. In a single oral dose study in which rats maintained on rodent pellets deficient in ω-3 fatty acids were intubated with 0.35 g LSO in lipoid, the amount of ALA present in lymph was increased reaching a maximum concentration of 16.23 mg/ml at 2.5 h. The amount of ALA present in lymph was increased to a maximum level of 10.95 mg/ml at 4 h in rats given LSO as a microemulsion in whey protein. When LSO was given without emulsification, the amount of ALA present in lymph was found to reach a maximum level of 7.08 mg/ml at 6 h. A similar result was observed when weaning rats were intubated with 0.15 g of LSO per day for a period of 60 days. Higher levels of ALA by 41 and 103 % were observed in lymph lipids of rats given microemulsions of LSO in whey protein and in lipoid respectively as compared to rats given LSO without pre-emulsification. Very little conversion of ALA to EPA and DHA was observed in lymph lipids but higher amounts of EPA + DHA was observed in liver and serum of rats given LSO in microemulsion form. This study indicated that ALA concentration in lymph lipids was increased when LSO was given in microemulsion form in lipoid and further conversion to EPA and DHA was facilitated in liver and serum.     

The Fifth WS/DGAT Enzyme of the Bacterium Marinobacter aquaeolei VT8

Wax esters (WE) belong to the class of neutral lipids. They are formed by an esterification of a fatty alcohol and an activated fatty acid. Dependent on the chain length and desaturation degree of the fatty acid and the fatty alcohol moiety, WE can have diverse physicochemical properties. WE derived from monounsaturated long-chain acyl moieties are of industrial interest due to their very good lubrication properties. Whereas WE were obtained in the past from spermaceti organs of the sperm whale, industrial WE are nowadays mostly produced chemically from fossil fuels. In order to produce WE more sustainably, attempts to produce industrial WE in transgenic plants are steadily increasing. To achieve this, different combinations of WE producing enzymes are expressed in developing Arabidopsis thaliana or Camelina sativa seeds. Here we report the identification and characterization of a fifth wax synthase from the organism Marinobacter aquaeolei VT8, MaWSD5. It belongs to the class of bifunctional wax synthase/acyl-CoA:diacylglycerol O-acyltransferases (WSD). The protein was purified to homogeneity. In vivo and in vitro substrate analyses revealed that MaWSD5 is able to synthesize WE but no triacylglycerols. The protein produces WE from saturated and monounsaturated mid- and long-chain substrates. Arabidopsis thaliana seeds expressing a fatty acid reductase from Marinobacter aquaeolei VT8 and MaWSD5 produce WE. Main WE synthesized are 20:1/18:1 and 20:1/20:1. This makes MaWSD5 a suitable candidate for industrial WE production in planta.     

Mitochondrial Lipids: From Membrane Organization to Apoptotic Facilitation

Mitochondria are the most complex intracellular organelles, their function combining energy production for survival and apoptosis facilitation for death. Such a multivariate physiology is structurally and functionally reflected upon their membrane configuration and lipid composition. Mitochondrial double membrane lipids, with cardiolipin as the protagonist, show an impressive level of complexity that is mandatory for maintenance of mitochondrial health and protection from apoptosis. Given that lipidomics is an emerging field in cancer research and that mitochondria are the organelles with the most important role in malignant maintenance knowledge of the mitochondrial membrane, lipid physiology in health is mandatory. In this review, we will thus describe the delicate nature of the healthy mitochondrial double membrane and its role in apoptosis. Emphasis will be given on mitochondrial membrane lipids and the changes that they undergo during apoptosis induction and progression.     

Investigating the Potential Use of Chemical Biopsy Devices to Characterize Brain Tumor Lipidomes

The development of a fast and accurate intraoperative method that enables the differentiation and stratification of cancerous lesions is still a challenging problem in laboratory medicine. Therefore, it is important to find and optimize a simple and effective analytical method of enabling the selection of distinctive metabolites. This study aims to assess the usefulness of solid-phase microextraction (SPME) probes as a sampling method for the lipidomic analysis of brain tumors. To this end, SPME was applied to sample brain tumors immediately after excision, followed by lipidomic analysis via liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS). The results showed that long fibers were a good option for extracting analytes from an entire lesion to obtain an average lipidomic profile. Moreover, significant differences between tumors of different histological origin were observed. In-depth investigation of the glioma samples revealed that malignancy grade and isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) mutation status impact the lipidomic composition of the tumor, whereas 1p/19q co-deletion did not appear to alter the lipid profile. This first on-site lipidomic analysis of intact tumors proved that chemical biopsy with SPME is a promising tool for the simple and fast extraction of lipid markers in neurooncology.     

核桃油对小鼠血脂及胆固醇的影响

采用不同剂量的核桃油对小鼠进行试验，研究其对血脂水平的影响。结果表明，核桃油试验组小鼠的血清甘油三脂（TG）、总胆固醇（TC）和动脉硬化指数（AI）均不同程度低于高脂模型组（P〈0.05或P〈0.01），而高密度脂蛋白（HDL-C）却显著（P〈0．05）高于高脂模型组，表明，核桃油确有显著降低血脂和降低动脉硬化危险性的作用。     

利用响应面分析法优化高山被孢霉M E - 1 生产花生四烯酸培养基成分研究

在利用高山被孢霉ME-1 生产花生四烯酸(ARA)过程中,采用响应面分析法,对摇瓶中的培养基成分进行优化。建立了两个标准的多项式模型：在长达6.5d 发酵过程中,当葡萄糖、酵母膏、KH2PO4 和NaNO3 浓度分别为90.16、12.50、3.80 和3.54g/L 时,生物量将到最大,约36.86g/L;当葡萄糖、酵母膏、KH2PO4 和NaNO3浓度分别为103.16、11.66、3.80 和3.43g/L 时,AA 产量将到最大,约9.65g/L。预测值通过实验得到了充分的证实,预测值和实验结果相关性很好。发酵罐实验结果表明,在高山被孢霉ME-1 大规模发酵生产过程中,对培养基进行优化,将同时引起生物量(发酵5d,约34.21 ± 1.01g/L)和AA 产量(发酵6d,约9.86 ± 0.45g/L)的增加。     

亚麻籽油降脂作用的实验研究

以成年大鼠为实验对象,研究摄食亚麻籽油对血清总胆固醇TC、甘油三脂TG、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇HDL-c的影响,结果显示,28d后各剂量亚麻籽油组与阳性对照组比较,血清总胆固醇下降达到27.0%～35.1%、甘油三脂下降3.8%～28.6%、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇升高3.48～9.28mg/dl。亚麻籽油对血脂调节作用极其显著。     

米糠甾醇对非酒精性脂肪性肝炎大鼠的治疗作用

目的：研究米糠植物甾醇对非酒精性脂肪性肝炎（non-alcoholic steatohepatitis,NASH）大鼠的干预治疗作用。方法：实验选用50只健康SD雄性大鼠,随机分为正常对照组、NASH模型组和米糠甾醇低、中、高3个剂量组（65、130、195 mg/kg）。高脂饲料饲喂造模,各实验组同时进行米糠甾醇溶液灌胃干预。13周后观察各组大鼠肝组织病理学特点,测定血清中血脂总胆固醇、甘油三酯、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇含量和谷丙转氨酶、谷草转氨酶、一氧化氮合酶和超氧化物歧化酶活性,并比较各组肝脏指数和脾脏指数。结果：肝脏组织切片观察到NASH模型组有明显的肝细胞脂肪变性和炎症聚集浸润,米糠甾醇各治疗组肝组织病变呈现不同程度减轻。NASH模型组血清高密度脂蛋白胆固醇含量、超氧化物歧化酶、一氧化氮合酶、谷丙转氨酶和谷草转氨酶活性与正常对照组相比,均表现出明显异常;米糠甾醇各剂量组与NASH模型组比较,血清谷丙转氨酶显著降低（P＜0.001）、谷草转氨酶/谷丙转氨酶比值显著升高（P＜0.01）;低剂量组血清超氧化物歧化酶（P＜0.05）和一氧化氮合酶（P＜0.001）显著降低;中剂量组血清高密度脂蛋白胆固醇显著升高（P＜0.05）。结论：米糠甾醇对大鼠非酒精性脂肪性肝炎有预防与治疗作用。