Analysis of oxidized glycerophosphocholine lipids using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and microderivatization techniques

Oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is thought to play an important role in atherogenesis and cardiovascular disease in humans. Oxidized LDL is a complex mixture of many oxidized species, including numerous oxidized glycerophospholipids. Electrospray ionization and tandem mass spectrometry as well as microchemical derivatization of high-performance liquid chromatographically purified fractions derived from oxidized LDL were investigated as means to determine the structure of individual components present in oxidized LDL. One major oxidized phosphocholine lipid had an [M + H](+) ion at m/z 650. Derivatization to the trimethylsilyl ether and methoxime caused shifts in mass which, along with negative ion collision-induced dissociation mass spectra, were consistent with the presence of three species, 1-palmitoyl-2-(9-oxononanoyl)glycerophosphocholine and two isomeric 1-octadecanoyl-2-(hydroxyheptenoyl)glycerophosphocholines. These species were chemically synthesized. Trimethylsilylation of free hydroxyl groups increased the mass of the phospholipid acyl chains containing hydroxyl groups by 72 u. Conversion of carbonyl groups to the methoxylamine derivative increased the mass by 29 u. Ozonolysis of those products which contained double bonds proved to be a facile technique to determine the position and number of double bonds present. The use of these techniques was illustrated in the structural characterization of one major component (m/z 650, positive ions) in oxidized LDL as 1-octadecanoyl-2-(7-hydroxyhepta-5-enoyl)glycerophosphocholi ne. A possible mechanism for the formation of this unique chain-shortened glycerophospholipid is proposed.

Inflammatory platelet-activating factor-like phospholipids in oxidized low density lipoproteins are fragmented alkyl phosphatidylcholines

Oxidation of human low density lipoprotein (LDL) generates proinflammatory mediators and underlies early events in atherogenesis. We identified mediators in oxidized LDL that induced an inflammatory reaction in vivo, and activated polymorphonuclear leukocytes and cells ectopically expressing human platelet-activating factor (PAF) receptors. Oxidation of a synthetic phosphatidylcholine showed that an sn-1 ether bond confers an 800-fold increase in potency. This suggests that rare ether-linked phospholipids in LDL are the likely source of PAF-like activity in oxidized LDL. Accordingly, treatment of oxidized LDL with phospholipase A(1) greatly reduced phospholipid mass, but did not decrease its PAF-like activity. Tandem mass spectrometry identified traces of PAF, and more abundant levels of 1-O-hexadecyl-2-(butanoyl or butenoyl)-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholines (C(4)-PAF analogs) in oxidized LDL that comigrated with PAF-like activity. Synthesis showed that either C(4)-PAF was just 10-fold less potent than PAF as a PAF receptor ligand and agonist. Quantitation by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of pentafluorobenzoyl derivatives shows the C(4)-PAF analogs were 100-fold more abundant in oxidized LDL than PAF. Oxidation of synthetic alkyl arachidonoyl phosphatidylcholine generated these C(4)-PAFs in abundance. These results show that quite minor constituents of the LDL phosphatidylcholine pool are the exclusive precursors for PAF-like bioactivity in oxidized LDL.

Differential metabolism of exogenous and endogenous arachidonic acid in human neutrophils

Leukotrienes can be produced by cooperative interactions between cells in which, for example, arachidonate derived from one cell is oxidized to leukotriene A(4) (LTA(4)) by another and this can then be exported for conversion to LTB(4) or cysteinyl leukotrienes (cys-LTs) by yet another. Neutrophils do not contain LTC(4) synthase but are known to cooperate with endothelial cells or platelets (which do have this enzyme) to generate cys-LTs. Stimulation of human neutrophils perfusing isolated rabbit hearts resulted in production of cys-LTs, whereas these were not seen with perfused hearts alone or isolated neutrophils. In addition, the stimulated, neutrophil-perfused hearts generated much greater amounts of total LTA(4) products, suggesting that the hearts were supplying arachidonate to the neutrophils and, in addition, that this externally derived arachidonate was preferentially used for exported LTA(4) that could be metabolized to cys-LTs by the coronary endothelium. Stable isotope-labeled arachidonate and electrospray tandem mass spectrometry were used to differentially follow metabolism of exogenous and endogenous arachidonate. Isolated, adherent neutrophils at low concentrations (to minimize transcellular metabolism between them) were shown to generate higher proportions of nonenzymatic LTA(4) products from exogenous arachidonate (deuterium-labeled) than from endogenous (unlabeled) sources. The endogenous arachidonate, on the other hand, was preferentially used for conversion to LTB(4) by the LTA(4) hydrolase. This result was not because of saturation of the LTA(4) hydrolase, because it occurred at widely differing concentrations of exogenous arachidonate. Finally, in the presence of platelets (which contain LTC(4) synthase), the LTA(4) synthesized from exogenous deuterium-labeled arachidonate was converted to cys-LTs to a greater degree than that from endogenous sources. These experiments suggest that exogenous arachidonate is preferentially converted to LTA(4) for export (not intracellular conversion) and raises the likelihood that there are different intracellular pathways for arachidonate metabolism.

Oxidation of glycerophospholipids from biological membranes by reactive oxygen species: liquid chromatographic-mass spectrometric analysis of eicosanoid products

Peroxidation of glycerophospholipids present in cellular membranes results in the formation of a complex mixture, with many products derived from the oxidation of esterified arachidonic acid. Techniques of chromatography and mass spectrometry have facilitated the elucidation of the structure of individual components present as intact glycerophospholipids as well as the oxidized fatty acyl groups liberated from the glycerol backbone by saponification. Previously reported studies are summarized in this overview concerning those oxidized products of arachidonic acid derived from the red blood cell membrane, studied by techniques of electrospray tandem mass spectrometry developed to analyze eicosanoid products.

Negative ion electrospray and tandem mass spectrometric analysis of platelet activating factor (PAF) (1-hexadecyl-2-acetyl-glycerophosphocholine)

The analysis of 1-hexadecyl-2-acetyl-glycerophosphocholine (platelet activating factor, PAF) by negative ion and normal-phase liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) was investigated as an alternative technique to the currently used gas chromatography/MS and positive ion LC/MS/MS procedures. The positive ion [M + H]+ derived from PAF and generated by electrospray ionization is abundant, but the potential presence of isobaric 1-octadecanoyl-2-lyso-glycerophosphocholine (stearoyl-lyso-GPC) and 1-hexadecanoyl-2-formyl-glycerophosphocholine (PFPC) in biological samples limits the use of the most abundant collision-induced decomposition (CID) transition (formation of the phosphocholine ion, m/z 524-->184) if chromatographic separation is not achieved. Less abundant CID product ions, such as loss of the neutral ketene molecule derived from the respective fatty acyl groups, provide the requisite specificity, but the intensity of these transitions yields a signal-to-noise ratio that greatly diminishes the analytical sensitivity. With negative ion LC/MS/MS, however, the molecular anions [M - 15]- derived from PAF, stearoyl-lyso-GPC and PFPC decompose to the carboxylate anions at m/z 59, 283 and 255, respectively, permitting discrimination of these isobaric molecules even without chromatographic separation. In addition, the CID of [M - 15]- was favorable, yielding ion currents of sufficient intensity to permit the measurement of PAF when isolated from small quantities of biological material. With the use of a stable isotopically labeled variant of PAF and isotope dilution, negative ion LC/MS/MS was found to measure PAF reliably even in the presence of the isobaric stearoyl-lyso-GPC and permitted the use of non-chlorinated mobile phases for normal-phase high-performance LC.

Malignancies in pediatric patients with ataxia telangiectasia

BACKGROUND

Patients with ataxia telangiectasia (AT), known to have an inherent increased susceptibility to the development of cancer, may present with malignancies that are unusual for the patient's age, are often difficult to diagnose clinically and radiographically and respond poorly to conventional therapy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We reviewed the clinical presentation and imaging studies of 12 AT patients who developed malignancies.

RESULTS

Eight of the twelve patients developed non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (CNS, thorax, bone), two developed Hodgkin's disease, and two were diagnosed with gastrointestinal mucinous adenocarcinoma.

CONCLUSION

The lymphomas were commonly extra nodal, and infiltrative rather than mass-like. The recognition of the tumors was often delayed due to confusion with the known infectious complications in AT patients.

Susceptibility of plasmenyl glycerophosphoethanolamine lipids containing arachidonate to oxidative degradation

Plasmenyl phospholipids (1-alk-1'-enyl-2-acyl-3-glycerophospholipids, plasmalogens) are a structurally unique class of lipids that contain an alpha-unsaturated ether substituent at the sn-1 position of the glycerol backbone. Several studies have supported the hypothesis that plasmalogens may be antioxidant molecules that protect cells from oxidative stress. Because the molecular mechanisms responsible for the antioxidant properties of plasmenyl phospholipids are not fully understood, the oxidation of plasmalogens in natural mixtures of phospholipids was studied using electrospray tandem mass spectrometry. Glycerophosphoethanolamine (GPE) lipids from bovine brain were found to contain six major molecular species (16:0p/18:1-, 18:1p/18:1-, 18:0p/20:4-, 16:0p/20:4, 18:0a/20:4-, and 18:0a/22:6-GPE). Oxidation of GPE yielded lyso phospholipid products derived from plasmalogen species containing only monounsaturated sn-2 substituents and diacyl-GPE with oxidized polyunsaturated fatty acyl substituents at sn-2. The only plasmalogen species remaining intact following oxidation contained monounsaturated fatty acyl groups esterified at sn-2. The mechanism responsible for the rapid and specific destruction of plasmalogen GPE may likely involve unique reactivity imparted by a polyunsaturated fatty acyl group esterified at sn-2. This structural feature may play a central role determining the antioxidant properties ascribed to this class of phospholipids.

The relationship of hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids and F2-isoprostanes to plaque instability in human carotid atherosclerosis

Evidence for increased oxidant stress has been reported in human atherosclerosis. However, no information is available about the importance of in situ oxidant stress in relation to plaque stability. This information is relevant because the morbidity and mortality of atherosclerosis are essentially the consequences of acute ischemic syndromes due to unstable plaques. We studied 30 carotid atherosclerotic plaques retrieved by endarterectomy from 18 asymptomatic (stable plaques) and 12 symptomatic patients (unstable plaques). Four normal arteries served as controls. After lipid extraction and ester hydrolysis, quantitation of different indices of oxidant stress were analyzed, including hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids (HETEs), epoxyeicosatetraenoic acids (EETs), ketoeicosatetraenoic acids (oxo-ETEs), and F2-isoprostanes using online reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS). All measurements were carried out in a strictly double-blind procedure. We found elevated levels of the different compounds in atherosclerotic plaques. Levels of HETEs were 24 times higher than EETs, oxo-ETEs, or F2-isoprostanes. Levels of HETEs, but not those of EETs, oxo-ETEs or F2-isoprostanes, were significantly elevated in plaques retrieved from symptomatic patients compared with those retrieved from asymptomatic patients (1, 738 +/- 274 vs. 1,002 +/- 107 pmol/ micromol lipid phosphorous, respectively; P < 0.01). One monooxygenated arachidonate species, 9-HETE, which cannot be derived from known enzymatic reactions, was the most abundant and significant compound observed in plaques, suggesting that nonenzymatic lipid peroxidation predominates in advanced atherosclerosis and may promote plaque instability.

Metabolic transformations of leukotriene B4 in primary cultures of human hepatocytes

Leukotriene B4 (LTB4) is a potent lipid mediator of the inflammatory response whose biological half-life is believed to be mediated principally by metabolism to inactive forms either in the tissue of origin or in the liver. Pathways of metabolic degradation of LTB4 along with structural identification of metabolites have been elucidated previously in isolated rat liver cells, human keratinocytes, human polymorphonuclear leukocytes, and cultured HepG2 cells. Research advances in human liver transplantation and preservation have made isolated human hepatocytes available for studying the metabolism of LTB4 in vitro. LTB4 was added to plated human hepatocytes from three different subjects for 24-h periods whereupon the substrate was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with scintillation counting, UV spectroscopy, and negative ion electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. Each set of hepatocytes yielded a different distribution of metabolites, but several metabolites appeared in all three sets of cells. These central metabolites included the previously identified 20-carboxy-LTB4 and 18-carboxy-LTB4, implicating the presence in the liver of specific P-450-mediated omega-oxidation as well as the enzymes involved in beta-oxidation from the omega-terminus. Each set of hepatocytes produced the metabolite 10,11-dihydro-20-COOH-LTB4, a product of the 12-hydroxyeicosanoid dehydrogenase/Delta10 reductase pathway. Glucuronides of LTB4 and several metabolites were found, which represents the first description of glucuronidation as a pathway of LTB4 metabolism. Finally, a series of novel metabolites were observed corresponding to beta-oxidation from the carboxyl terminus of LTB4.

Exogenous leukotriene B4 (LTB4) inhibits human neutrophil generation of LTB4 from endogenous arachidonic acid during opsonized zymosan phagocytosis

The effect of exogenous leukotriene B4 (LTB4) on opsonized zymosan-stimulated human neutrophil formation of 5-lipoxygenase products and arachidonic acid release was directly assessed using reverse-phase HPLC/tandem mass spectrometric methods for quantitation. Stable isotopically labeled LTB4, [1,2-13C2]LTB4, caused a dose-dependent inhibition of LTB4 production in isolated human neutrophils with significant inhibition (60 +/- 7% of control levels) when 0.12 nM [13C2]LTB4 was present. Production of 5-hydroxy-6,8,11,14-eicosatetraenoic acid and release of free arachidonic acid were also dose-dependently inhibited by exogenous LTB4. Metabolites of LTB4, 20-hydroxy-LTB4 and 3(S)-hydroxy-LTB4, also significantly reduced LTB4 production to levels as low as 10 +/- 6% and 10 +/- 7% of control levels, respectively, when present exogenously at 10 nM. Exogenous 5-hydroxy-6,8,11,14-eicosatetraenoic acid at concentrations as high as 10 nM produced no significant reduction in LTB4 biosynthesis during zymosan-stimulated human neutrophil production of LTB4. The inhibitory effect of LTB4 could be partially reversed by the LTB4 receptor antagonist U 75302. Furthermore, an alternative stimulus, N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (100 nM), did not inhibit the production of LTB4 in opsonized zymosan-stimulated human neutrophils. These results suggest that activation of the LTB4 receptor on the human neutrophil during phagocytosis limits the ultimate biosynthesis of LTB4. This autocrine effect is opposite to that observed when neutrophils have much of the signal transduction pathways bypassed when stimulated with calcium ionophore A23187 or treated with exogenous free arachidonic acid.

Activation of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes by products derived from the peroxidation of human red blood cell membranes

Oxidation of red blood cell (RBC) ghost preparations initiated by tert-butyl hydroperoxide (tBuOOH) was employed to explore the formation of lipid products derived from endogenous phospholipids that specifically expressed biological activity toward the human polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN). Common measure of lipid peroxidation, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) and the increased absorbance at 235 nm consistent with the formation of conjugated dienes, was observed following a 90-min incubation of RBC ghosts with tBuOOH. Saponification of phospholipids and separation of the resultant fatty acids by RP-HPLC permitted direct mass spectrometric analysis of oxidized fatty acids. Individual HPLC fractions were assayed for their ability to increase intracellular free calcium ion concentrations in human PMN to guide structural investigations. Two fractions were found to contain biologically active components, and tandem mass spectrometric analysis of the abundant ions observed in these fractions resulted in the characterization of several oxidized polyunsaturated fatty acids derived from arachidonic and linoleic acids. The major components in these fractions included 5-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (5-HETE) and 5-hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic acid (5-HpETE). The dose-dependent increases in intracellular calcium in the neutrophil using synthetic 5(rac)-HETE, 5(rac)-HpETE, and 5-oxo-ETE were found to have EC50's of 250, 6, and 3 nM, respectively. The quantity of 5-oxygenated arachidonate components present in oxidized RBC was consistent with the observed biological response elicited by fractions A and B. This study suggests that 5-HETE and 5-HpETE are abundant products of lipid peroxidation of cellular membranes and that these racemic products possess significant biological activity. Such compounds could play important roles as mediators of the cellular response to toxicologic stimuli that generate free radical species.

Occurrence of oxidized metabolites of arachidonic acid esterified to phospholipids in murine lung tissue

Isolation and characterization of murine pulmonary phospholipids revealed the normal occurrence of 10 isobaric eicosanoids corresponding to the incorporation of one oxygen atom into the arachidonate esterified to glycerophospholipids. Lungs from mice were removed and lipids were extracted and then separated into free carboxylic acid and phospholipids. Phospholipids were hydrolyzed to yield the free carboxylic acids prior to analysis. Reverse-phase HPLC and electrospray tandem mass spectrometry were used to identify and quantitate six monohydroxyeicosatetraenoic (HETE) and four epoxyeicosatetraenoic (EET) acid regioisomers using d8-HETE as internal standard. HETEs esterified to phospholipids were found to increase following intratracheal administration of tBuOOH (36 mg/kg), but not the levels of esterified EETs. Chiral analysis of esterified 15-HETE revealed an R/S ratio of 0.96, suggesting operation of a free radical mechanism responsible for generation of this monohydroxy arachidonate phospholipid, and this enantiomeric ratio was 1.10 following treatment of the mouse lung with tBuOOH. These results are consistent with a free-radical-based mechanism of oxidation of pulmonary glycerophospholipids containing arachidonate.

Activation of the epidermal platelet-activating factor receptor results in cytokine and cyclooxygenase-2 biosynthesis

Recent studies suggest that the lipid mediator platelet-activating factor (PAF) is involved in keratinocyte function and skin inflammation. Indeed, PAF is found in association with inflammatory skin diseases, intradermal injections of PAF induce inflammation, and keratinocytes express functional PAF receptors (PAF-R). One mechanism by which the keratinocyte PAF-R could contribute to epidermal functions and inflammatory states would be through the synthesis of inflammatory regulators, such as PAF, PGs, and cytokines. The ability of the epidermal PAF-R to induce the synthesis of these immunomodulators was tested using a model system created by transduction of the PAF-R-negative human epidermal cell line KB with the PAF-R. Activation of this epidermal PAF-R resulted in arachidonic acid release, and the biosynthesis of PAF and PGE2. In addition, the KB PAF-R triggered increased levels of mRNA and protein for the inducible isozyme of cyclooxygenase (COX-2) as well as IL-6 and IL-8, both of which have been implicated in skin inflammatory processes. Studies with the human keratinocyte-derived epidermal cell line HaCaT revealed that activation of the endogenous PAF-R led to the increased accumulation of COX-2, IL-6, and IL-8 mRNA similar to that seen with the KB PAF-R model system. Finally, treatment of HaCaT keratinocytes with IL-8 resulted in PAF biosynthesis, indicating the existence of a positive feedback loop between IL-8 and PAF in epidermal cells. These studies suggest involvement of PAF and the PAF-R in the epidermal cytokine network.

Identification and pharmacological characterization of platelet-activating factor and related 1-palmitoyl species in human inflammatory blistering diseases

Through its pro-inflammatory effects on leukocytes, endothelial cells, and keratinocytes, the lipid mediator platelet-activating factor (PAF) has been implicated in cutaneous inflammation. Although the 1-alkyl PAF species has been considered historically the most abundant and important ligand for the PAF receptor (PAF-R), other putative ligands for this receptor have been described including 1-acyl analogs of sn-2 acetyl glycerophosphocholines. Previous bioassays have demonstrated a PAF-like activity in lesions of the autoimmune blistering disease bullous pemphigoid. To assess the actual sn-2 acetyl glycerophosphocholine species that result in this PAF agonistic activity, we measured PAF and related sn-2 acetyl GPCs in fresh blister fluid samples from bullous pemphigoid and noninflammatory (suction-induced) bullae by mass spectrometry. We report the presence of 1-hexadecyl as well as the 1-acyl PAF analog 1-palmitoyl-2-acetyl glycerophosphocholine (PAPC) in inflammatory blister fluid samples. Because PAPC is the most abundant sn-2 acetyl glycerophosphocholine species found in all samples examined, the pharmacological effects of this species with respect to the PAF-R were determined using a model system created by transduction of a PAF-R-negative epidermoid cell line with the PAF-R. Radioligand binding and intracellular calcium mobilization studies indicated that PAPC is approximately 100x less potent than PAF. Though a weak agonist, PAPC could induce PAF biosynthesis and PAF-R desensitization. Finally, intradermal injections of PAF and PAPC into the ventral ears of rats demonstrated that PAPC was 100x less potent in vivo. These studies suggest possible involvement of PAF and related species in inflammatory bullous diseases.

Expression of the platelet-activating factor receptor results in enhanced ultraviolet B radiation-induced apoptosis in a human epidermal cell line

Recent studies have demonstrated that ultraviolet B radiation (UVB) damages human keratinocytes in part by inducing oxidative stress and cytokine production. Severe UVB damage to the keratinocyte can also result in apoptosis or programmed cell death. Although the lipid mediator platelet-activating factor (PAF) is synthesized in response to epidermal cell damage and epidermal cells express PAF receptors, it is not known whether PAF is involved in UVB-induced epidermal cell apoptosis. These studies examined the role of the PAF system in UVB-induced epidermal cell apoptosis using a novel model system created by retroviral-mediated transduction of the PAF receptor-negative human epidermal cell line KB with the human PAF receptor (PAF-R). Expression of the PAF-R in KB cells did not affect base-line growth or apoptosis, yet resulted in a decrease in the lag time between treatment of the cells and the induction of apoptosis following irradiation with 400 J/m2 UVB. This effect was inhibited by pretreatment with the PAF-R antagonists WEB 2086 and A-85783, confirming involvement of the PAF-R in this process. At lower doses (100-200 J/m2) of UVB, only KB cells that expressed the PAF-R became apoptotic. Treatment of PAF-R-expressing KB clones with the metabolically stable PAF-R agonist 1-hexadexyl-2-N-methylcarbamoyl-3-glycerophosphocholine (CPAF) alone did not induce apoptosis but augmented the degree of apoptosis observed if CPAF was used in combination with lower doses (200 J/m2) of UVB irradiation. Interestingly, UVB irradiation was found to stimulate PAF synthesis only in PAF-R-expressing KB cell clones. The antioxidants N-acetyl cysteine, 1,1,3,3-tetramethyl-2-thiourea, and vitamin E inhibited both UVB-induced PAF biosynthesis as well as the augmentation of UVB-induced apoptosis in PAF-R-expressing KB clones, suggesting the possibility that UVB stimulates the production of oxidized lipid species with PAF-R agonistic activity in this model system. Thus, these studies indicate that a component of UVB-induced epidermal cell cytotoxicity can be modulated by PAF-R activation through the production of PAF and PAF-like species.

Structural characterization of the covalent attachment of leukotriene A3 to leukotriene A4 hydrolase

Leukotriene A4 (LTA4) hydrolase catalyzes the conversion of the unstable epoxide LTA4 [5(S)-trans-5,6-oxido-11,14-cis-eicosatetraenoic acid] into proinflammatory LTB4. During the process of catalyzing this reaction, the enzyme is suicide inactivated by its substrate. In addition, LTA3, and analogue of LTA4 that lacks the C14-C15 double bond, is a potent suicide inhibitor of LTA4 hydrolase. We have synthesized [3H]LTA3 and used this ligand to demonstrate that LTA3 can covalently label LTA4 hydrolase and that this labeling is specifically competed for by bestatin and LTA4. Incubation of recombinant human LTA4 hydrolase with LTA3 followed by proteolysis (endoproteinase Lys-C) resulted in a peptide map with a single modified peptide defining the location of the LTA3 covalent attachment region. This modified 21-amino-acid peptide had a UV absorption spectrum corresponding to a conjugated triene chromophore which established conservation of this structural unit after covalent interaction of LTA3 with LTA4 hydrolase. MALDI-TOF mass spectrometric analysis of the 21-amino-acid peptide adduct revealed an abundant MH+ at m/z 2658, consistent with the predicted nominal mass of the sequenced peptide with the addition of a single LTA3 moiety. Proteolysis of LTA4 hydrolase modified with LTA3 was performed sequentially with endo-Asp-N and endo-Lys-C. The resulting peptide isolated by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography was analyzed by mass spectroscopy revealing two related peptides, D371-K385 (m/z 2018.0) and D375-K385 (m/z 1577.8), both of which retained the elements of LTA3. Postsource decay of m/z 1577.8 resulted in an abundant ion at m/z 536 and an ion of lesser abundance at m/z 856 consistent with cleavage between V381 and P382 that supported assignment of the modified tyrosine residue at Y383. These results suggest nucleophilic attack of a tyrosine residue (Y383) at the conjugated triene epoxide of LTA3 resulting in a triene ether carbinol covalent adduct.

Analysis of stable oxidized molecular species of glycerophospholipids following treatment of red blood cell ghosts with t-butylhydroperoxide

A model of lipid peroxidation was employed to investigate the formation of oxidized phospholipids in red blood cell membranes after treatment with t-butylhydroperoxide (tBuOOH). On-line normal-phase HPLC/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) with electrospray ionization was used to separate phospholipid classes and analyze the distribution of the major poly-unsaturated fatty acyl groups and corresponding oxidation products. Arachidonic acid was observed primarily in plasmalogen glycerophosphoethanolamine (GPE), whereas linoleic acid was equally distributed in 1,2-diacyl-GPE and glycero-phosphocholine (GPC) lipids. The additions of one and two oxygen atoms to poly-unsaturated phospholipid molecular species were observed as the major, stable products after incubation with tBuOOH. Tandem mass spectrometry was utilized to further structurally characterize the oxidized fatty acyl groups which were identified as 5-, 8-, 9-, 11-, 12-, and 15-hydroxy-eicosatetraenoate (HETE) and 5-, 12-, and 15-hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoate (HpETE) in addition to 9- and 13-hydroxyoctadecadienoate (HODE) and 9- and 13-hydroperoxyoctadecadienoate (HpODE). Although 18:0p/20:4-GPE was the predominate phospholipid species containing arachidonic acid, the major species containing HETE and HpETE were the 1,2-diacyl-GPE with hexadecanoate as the sn-1 substituent. This result would be consistent with a differential pathway of oxidative degradation of arachidonoyl plasmalogen GPE suggesting a unique role for this plasmalogen molecular species glycerophospholipid.

Electrospray mass spectrometric analysis of 5-hydroperoxy and 5-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids generated by lipid peroxidation of red blood cell ghost phospholipids

Recent evidence suggests that generation of hydroxyl radicals in the presence of lipid membranes can lead to oxidation of arachidonic acid esterified to glycerophospholipids and the production of compounds isomeric to prostaglandins, thromboxanes, and leukotrienes. Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry and multiple reaction monitoring were employed to quantitate the production of 5-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (5-HETE), 5-hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic acid (5-HPETE), and 5-oxo-eicosatetraenoic acid (5-oxo-ETE) in red blood cells ghosts treated with t-butylhydroperoxide (tBuOOH). Untreated red blood cell ghosts were found to contain low, but measurable quantities of these three 5-oxygenated eicosanoids as phospholipid esters. Following treatment, there was approximately a 53- and 22.5-fold increase in 5-HETE and 5-HPETE, respectively, and an 8.5-fold increase in 5-oxo-ETE. The formation of these compounds was inhibited nearly 90% by the antioxidants butylated hydroxytoluene, ascorbic acid, and resveratrol providing further evidence for free radical mediated oxidation of arachidonic acid. This analytical protocol provided sufficient sensitivity for detection of these compounds in studies in which previous analysis by high-pressure liquid chromatography with UV detection failed to detect their presence. These results reveal that the biologically active eicosanoids 5-HPETE, 5-HPETE, and 5-oxo-ETE are formed esterified to phospholipids following exposure of cellular membranes to reactive oxygen species and free radicals in a model system where intracellular antioxidant mechanisms were depleted.

The effects of ethanol and acetaldehyde on the metabolism of prostaglandin E2 and leukotriene B4 in isolated rat hepatocytes

The effects of ethanol and acetaldehyde on the metabolism of leukotriene B4 (LTB4) and PGE2 were investigated in isolated cultures of rat hepatocytes. LTB4 undergoes initial cytochrome P450-dependent omega-oxidation leading to the principal metabolites 20-hydroxy-LTB4, 20-carboxy-LTB4 and the omega/beta-oxidation product 18-carboxy-LTB4. The addition of low concentrations of ethanol (25 mM) dramatically changes the relative amounts of these metabolite products by inhibiting the alcohol dehydrogenase-mediated oxidation of 20-hydroxy-LTB4. Addition of acetaldehyde to the incubation, up to 1 mM, had no significant effect on overall metabolism or distribution of metabolites. Above 1 mM acetaldehyde, beta-oxidation of LTB4 was inhibited. Thus the effect of ethanol on the metabolism of LTB4 appears to be due to ethanol itself and not to secondary effects from the metabolic transformation of ethanol to acetaldehyde in the cells. PGE2 is metabolized in isolated rat hepatocytes to produce chain-shortened products of beta-oxidation characterized as dinor-PGE1, dinor-PGE2, tetranor-PGE1, tauro-dinor-PGE1 and tauro-dinor-PGE2. Low concentrations of ethanol (25 mM) were found to increase the relative concentration of dinor-PGE1 in the metabolic distribution, with a corresponding decrease in concentration of tetranor-PGE1. The amount of dinor-PGE2 that was produced remained relatively unchanged in response to increasing concentrations of ethanol. Acetaldehyde concentrations from 0.1 mM to 1 mM did not affect metabolite distribution or the overall magnitude of PGE2 metabolism. Concentrations of acetaldehyde higher than 1 mM decreased all beta-oxidation metabolites. Ethanol, at physiologically relevant concentrations, could alter eicosanoid metabolism in the liver by inhibiting LTB4 metabolism and altering that of PGE2.

Two high conductance channels of the mitochondrial inner membrane are independent of the human mitochondrial genome

Patch-clamp techniques were used to characterize the channel activity of mitochondrial inner membranes of two human osteosarcoma cell lines: a mitochondrial genome-deficient (rho0) line and its corresponding parental (rho+) line. Previously, two high conductance channels, mitochondrial Centum picoSiemen (mCS) and multiple conductance channels (MCC), were detected in murine mitochondria. While MCC was assigned to the protein import in yeast mitochondria, the role of mCS is unknown. This study demonstrates that mCs and MCC activities from mouse mitochondria are indistinguishable from those of human mitochondria. The channel activities and their functional expression levels are not altered in cells lacking mtDNA. Hence, rho0 cells may provide a model system for elucidating the role of mitochondrial channels in disease processes and apoptosis.

Copper-catalyzed oxidation mediates PAF formation in human LDL subspecies. Protective role of PAF:acetylhydrolase in dense LDL

Free radical-mediated oxidation of cholesterol-rich LDL plays a key role in atherogenesis and involves the formation of oxidized phospholipids with proinflammatory biological activity. We evaluated the production of platelet-activating factor (PAF), a potent inflammatory mediator, in human LDL subspecies on copper-initiated oxidation (4 mumol/L CuCl2, 80 micrograms/mL for hours at 37 degrees C). PAF formation was determined by biological assay of HPLC-purified lipid extracts of copper-oxidized lipoproteins; chemical identity was confirmed by gas chromatographic and mass spectrometric analyses. PAF, characterized as the C16:0 molecular species, was preferentially produced in intermediate LDL (d = 1.029 to 1.039 g/mL) (8.6 +/- 5.7 pmol PAF/3 h per mg LDL protein) and light LDL (d = 1.019 to 1.029 g/mL), but was absent from dense LDL particles (d = 1.050 to 1.063 g/mL). As PAF:acetylhydrolase inactivates PAF and oxidized forms of phosphatidylcholine, we evaluated the relationship of lipoprotein-associated PAF:acetylhydrolase to PAF formation. We confirmed that PAF:acetylhydrolase activity was elevated in native, dense LDL (41.5 +/- 9.5 nmol/min per mg protein) but low in LDL subspecies of light and intermediate density (d 1.020 to 1.039 g/mL) (3.5 +/- 1.6 nmol/min per mg protein) [Tselepis et al, Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 1995;15:1764-1773]. On copper-mediated oxidation for 3 hours at 37 degrees C, dense LDL particles conserved 20 +/- 14% of their initial enzymatic activity; in contrast, PAF:acetylhydrolase activity was abolished in light and intermediate LDL subspecies. Clearly, the elevated PAF:acetylhydrolase activity of dense LDL efficiently diminishes the potential inflammatory role of endogenously formed PAF; nonetheless, formation of proatherogenic lysophospholipids results. In contrast, LDL particles of the light and intermediate subclasses can accumulate PAF on oxidative modification.

Oxidative metabolism of a rexinoid and rapid phase II metabolite identification by mass spectrometry

LGD1069 (Targretin), a retinoid "X" receptor-selective ligand, or rexinoid, is in clinical trials for treating cancer. Biologically-active oxidized LGD1069 metabolites have been observed in patient plasma samples, making corresponding structural characterizations necessary. Formation of multiple metabolite isomers in vivo has created technical challenges in metabolite structural analysis; however, mass spectrometry (MS) was able to pinpoint two sites of Phase I metabolism. A carbon-13 trideuterated analog was used as an isotopic marker to probe Phase II metabolism of LGD1069. Rats were orally gavaged with an equimolar mixture of LGD1069 and [13C2H3]LGD1069, then anesthetized prior to bile-duct cannulation. Bile was collected for 7 hr, extracted, and concentrated. Recovered metabolites were analyzed by narrow-bore, gradient liquid chromatography (LC) with negative ion, electrospray ionization MS detection. When resultant total ion chromatograms were interrogated for mass spectra exhibiting isotope clusters separated by 4 daltons, 13 such clusters corresponding to Phase II LGD1069 metabolites of nine different molecular weights were detected. Acyl-glucuronide and taurine conjugates of both parent compound and hydroxy-LGD1069 were observed. The sulfate and taurine conjugates of oxo-LGD1069 were also identified, as were 6,7-dihydroxy-LGD1069 taurine, LGD1069 ether glucuronide, and a secondary conjugate (taurine) of the latter. Identities of selected conjugates were confirmed by MS/MS. The results of this study demonstrate that when combined with traditional GC/MS and MS/MS data, the isotope cluster technique can provide powerful selectivity in identifying numerous Phase II drug metabolites during a single LC/MS analysis.

Analysis of epoxyeicosatrienoic and monohydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids esterified to phospholipids in human red blood cells by electrospray tandem mass spectrometry

Electrospray ionization (ESI) and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) were used to analyze epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) and monohydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids (HETEs) isolated from human red blood cell membranes following base hydrolysis. ESI results in the formation of an abundant isobaric carboxylate anion at m/z 319 for both of these oxidized metabolites of arachidonic acid. The product ion spectra from the collision-induced dissociation of this carboxylate anion could be used to identify each of the isomeric eicosanoids from the unique fragment ions of each eicosanoid. The observed product ion spectra were identical with those previously obtained by fast atom bombardment ionization; however, ESI required less EET and HETE for analysis. Both EET and HETE phospholipids were present in human red blood cells (RBCs) and their abundance could be substantially increased by treatment under conditions that would induce free radical oxidation of membrane phospholipids. Following incubation of human RBCs with tert-butyl hydroperoxide (tBuOOH), phospholipids were extracted and purified by normal-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) as to glycerophospholipid class containing ethanolamine (GPE), serine (GPS) and choline (GPC) as the polar head group. Each class of phospholipid was hydrolyzed to yield the free carboxylic acid prior to on-line HPLC/ESI-MS/MS analysis. The formation of oxidized arachidonic acid esterified to phospholipids in treated RBCs was found to increase significantly for both esterified EETs in GPE, GPS and GPC which increased 49-, 34- and 59-fold, respectively, and also for esterified HETEs in GPE, GPS and GPC which increased 3-, 4- and 11-fold, respectively, compared with untreated RBCs. These results provide the first characterization of EETs formed non-enzymatically as intact phospholipids in a lipid peroxidation model system.