Characterization of novel myelin components 3-O-acetyl-sphingosine galactosylceramides by electrospray ionization Q-TOF MS and MS/CID-MS of Li+ adducts

The Structural Diversity of Natural Glycosphingolipids (GSLs)

Glycosphingolipids (GSLs) are a subclass of glycolipids made of a glycan and a ceramide that, in turn, is composed of a sphingoid base moiety and a fatty acyl group. GSLs represent the vast majority of glycolipids in eukaryotes, and as an essential component of the cell membrane, they play an important role in many biological and pathological processes. Therefore, they are useful targets for the development of novel diagnostic and therapeutic methods for human diseases. Since sphingosine was first described by J. L. Thudichum in 1884, several hundred GSL species, not including their diverse lipid forms that can further amplify the number of individual GSLs by many folds, have been isolated from natural sources and structurally characterized. This review tries to provide a comprehensive survey of the major GSL species, especially those with distinct glycan structures and modification patterns, and the ceramides with unique modifications of the lipid chains, that have been discovered to date. In particular, this review is focused on GSLs from eukaryotic species. This review has listed 251 GSL glycans with different linkages, 127 glycans with unique modifications, 46 sphingoids, and 43 fatty acyl groups. It should be helpful for scientists who are interested in GSLs, from isolation and structural analyses to chemical and enzymatic syntheses, as well as their biological studies and applications.

Autoimmunity in multiple sclerosis: role of sphingolipids, invariant NKT cells and other immune elements in control of inflammation and neurodegeneration

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. It is classified as being an autoimmune response in the genetically susceptible individual to a persistent but unidentified antigen(s). Both the adaptive and the innate immune systems are likely to contribute significantly to MS pathogenesis. This review summarizes current understanding of the characteristics of MS autoimmunity in the initiation and progression of the disease. In particular we find it timely to classify the autoimmune responses by focusing on the immunogenic features of myelin-derived lipids in MS including molecular mimicry; on alterations of bioactive sphingolipids mediators in MS; and on functional roles for regulatory effector cells, including innate lymphocyte populations, like the invariant NKT (iNKT) cells which bridge adaptive and innate immune systems. Recent progress in identifying the nature of sphingolipids recognition for iNKT cells in immunity and the functional consequences of the lipid-CD1d interaction opens new avenues of access to the pathogenesis of demyelination in MS as well as design of lipid antigen-specific therapeutics.

Invariant natural killer T cells and their ligands: focus on multiple sclerosis

Invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells are an innate population of T cells identified by the expression of an invariant T-cell receptor and reactivity to lipid-based antigens complexed with CD1d. They account for a small percentage of lymphocytes, but are extremely potent and play central roles in immunity to infection, in some cancers, and in autoimmunity. The list of relevant stimulatory lipids and glycolipid antigens now includes a range of endogenous self-antigens including the myelin-derived acetylated galactosylceramides. Recent progress in studies to identify the nature of lipid recognition for iNKT cells in autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis is likely to foster the development of therapeutic strategies aimed at harnessing iNKT cell activity.

Lipidomics: analysis of the lipid composition of cells and subcellular organelles by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

Lipidomics aims to quantitatively define lipid classes, including their molecular species, in biological systems. Lipidomics has experienced rapid progress, mainly because of continuous technical advances in instrumentation that are now enabling quantitative lipid analyses with an unprecedented level of sensitivity and precision. The still-growing category of lipids includes a broad diversity of chemical structures with a wide range of physicochemical properties. Reflecting this diversity, different methods and strategies are being applied to the quantification of lipids. Here, I review state-of-the-art electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometric approaches and direct infusion to quantitatively assess lipid compositions of cells and subcellular fractions. Finally, I discuss a few examples of the power of mass spectrometry-based lipidomics in addressing cell biological questions.

Myelin recovery in multiple sclerosis: the challenge of remyelination

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common demyelinating and an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system characterized by immune-mediated myelin and axonal damage, and chronic axonal loss attributable to the absence of myelin sheaths. T cell subsets (Th1, Th2, Th17, CD8⁺, NKT, CD4⁺CD25⁺ T regulatory cells) and B cells are involved in this disorder, thus new MS therapies seek damage prevention by resetting multiple components of the immune system. The currently approved therapies are immunoregulatory and reduce the number and rate of lesion formation but are only partially effective. This review summarizes current understanding of the processes at issue: myelination, demyelination and remyelination—with emphasis upon myelin composition/architecture and oligodendrocyte maturation and differentiation. The translational options target oligodendrocyte protection and myelin repair in animal models and assess their relevance in human. Remyelination may be enhanced by signals that promote myelin formation and repair. The crucial question of why remyelination fails is approached is several ways by examining the role in remyelination of available MS medications and avenues being actively pursued to promote remyelination including: (i) cytokine-based immune-intervention (targeting calpain inhibition), (ii) antigen-based immunomodulation (targeting glycolipid-reactive iNKT cells and sphingoid mediated inflammation) and (iii) recombinant monoclonal antibodies-induced remyelination.

Invariant Natural Killer T-cell anergy to endogenous myelin acetyl-glycolipids in multiple sclerosis

To extend our studies on glycolipid-reactive invariant Natural Killer T-cell (iNKT-cell) function in multiple sclerosis (MS), we investigated the stimulatory activities of two myelin-derived glycolipids that are poly-acetylated derivatives of β-galactosylceramide designated as fast-migrating cerebrosides (FMC) by thin-layer chromatography. In healthy subjects, FMC stimulation of peripheral blood cells significantly expanded iNKT-cells similar to α-GalCer and induced significant increases in Th1, Th2 and Th17 cytokines. In marked contrast, MS patients failed to respond to FMCs or to α-GalCer stimulation indicating an anergic response. We propose that myelin-derived FMC glycolipids stimulate iNKT-cell responses in vivo and this is blocked in MS.

Implications of Lymphocyte Anergy to Glycolipids in Multiple Sclerosis (MS): iNKT Cells May Mediate the MS Infectious Trigger

Immunogenic lipids may play key roles in host defenses against infection and in generating autoimmune inflammation and organ-specific damage. In multiple sclerosis (MS) there are unequivocal autoimmune features and vulnerability to aggravation or induction by microbial or viral infection. We have found glycolipid-driven anergy of circulating lymphocytes in MS indicating that this immune response is affected in MS and the robust effects of iNKT activation with potent cellular and cytokine activities emphasizes its potential importance. Diverse glycolipids including the endogenous myelin acetylated-galactosylceramides (AcGalCer) can drive activation that could be critical to the inflammatory demyelination in the central nervous system and clinical consequences. The iNKT cells and their invariant or iTCR (Vα24Jα18Vβ11) receptor an innate defense–a discrete immune arm that is separate from peptide-driven acquired immune responses. This offers new possibilities for insight including a likelihood that the pattern recognition of exogenous microbial and myelin immunogens can overlap and cross-react especially in an inflammatory milieu.

Comprehensive characterization of Annonaceous acetogenins within a complex extract by HPLC-ESI-LTQ-Orbitrap® using post-column lithium infusion

Annonaceous acetogenins (AAGs) are a homogenous class of polyketides proposed as environmental neurotoxins. Previous dereplication studies of AAGs were limited by the use of low-resolution mass spectrometers. Only poor information in terms of structures was provided due to the limited fragmentation of protonated or sodium cationized species. An innovative approach, using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to a hybrid linear ion trap/orbitrap mass spectrometer (LTQ-Orbitrap®), was therefore performed. Sensitivity was enhanced by post-column infusion of lithium, since AAGs have a high affinity for this cation. High level of structural information was obtained from low-energy-collision-induced dissociation fragmentation experiments of lithium-cationized AAGs ([M + Li](+) ions) as demonstrated with purified standards. The method was then applied to a total ethyl-acetate extract prepared from commercial soursop nectar (Annona muricata L.). The sensitivity, mass accuracy and specific fragmentation patterns proved to be particularly useful for characterization of the AAGs. Typical structural identification procedure and unexpected observations for specific structural types are illustrated, with major and minor compounds.

The structural and functional role of myelin fast-migrating cerebrosides: pathological importance in multiple sclerosis

A family of neutral glycosphingolipids containing a 3-O-acetyl-sphingosine galactosylceramide (3-SAG) has been characterized. Seven new derivatives of galactosylceramide (GalCer), designated as fast-migrating cerebrosides (FMCs) by TLC retention factor, have been identified. The simplest compounds - FMC-1 and FMC-2 - of this series have been characterized as the 3-SAG containing nonhydroxy and hydroxy fatty acyl, respectively. The next two - FMC-3 and FMC-4 - add 6-O-acetyl-galactose and the most complex glycosphingolipids, FMC-5, -6 and -7, are 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-3-SAG. These hydrophobic myelin lipid biomarkers coappear with GalCer during myelinogenesis and disappear along with GalCer in de- or dys-myelinating disorders. Myelin lipid antigens, including FMCs, are keys to myelin biology, opening the possibility of new and novel immune modulatory tools for treatment of autoimmune diseases including multiple sclerosis.

Neutral glycosphingolipids in human blood: a precise mass spectrometry analysis with special reference to lipoprotein-associated Shiga toxin receptors

Shiga toxin (Stx)-producing Escherichia coli are the leading cause of hemorrhagic colitis and life-threatening extraintestinal complications in humans. Stx1 and Stx2 are transferred by yet to be delineated mechanisms from the intestine to the circulation where they injure microvascular endothelial cells. The resulting vascular lesions cause renal failure and brain damage. Because lipoproteins are potential carriers of Stx through the circulation, we investigated human lipoprotein-associated neutral glycosphingolipids (GSLs) with emphasis on high (globotriaosylceramide) and low (globotetraosylceramide) affinity Stx-receptors. TLC overlay employing Stx1, Stx2, and anti-GSL antibodies demonstrated preferential distribution of globo-series GSLs to very low- and low-density lipoproteins compared with minor association with high-density lipoproteins. Electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry portrayed C24:0/C24:1 and C16:0 as the major fatty acid of the ceramide moieties of Stx-receptors carrying nonvarying d18:1 sphingosine. This structural heterogeneity was also found in precursor lactosylceramide, glucosylceramide, and galactosylceramide, the last showing an exceptionally high degree of hydroxylated C24 fatty acids. Our findings provide the basis for exploring the functional role of lipoprotein-associated Stx-receptors in human blood.

Novel myelin penta- and hexa-acetyl-galactosyl-ceramides: structural characterization and immunoreactivity in cerebrospinal fluid

Fast migrating cerebrosides (FMC) are derivatives of galactosylceramide (GalCer). The structures of the most hydrophobic FMC-5, FMC-6, and FMC-7 were determined by electrospray ionization linear ion-trap mass spectrometry (MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy complementing previous NMR spectroscopy and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to be 3-O-acetyl-sphingosine-GalCer derivatives with galactose O-acetyl modifications. FMC-5 and FMC-6 are 3-O-acetyl-sphingosine-2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-GalCer with nonhydroxy and hydroxy-N-fatty-acids, while FMC-7 has an additional O-acetylation of the 2-hydroxy-fatty acid. The immuno-reactivity in human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to these acetylated glycolipids was examined in central nervous system (CNS) infectious disease, noninflammatory disorders, and multiple sclerosis (MS). Screening for lipid binding in MS and other neurological disease groups revealed that the greatest anti-hydrophobic FMC reactivity was observed in the inflammatory CNS diseases (meningitis, meningo-encephalitis, and subacute sclerosing panencephalitis). Some MS patients had increased reactivity with the hydrophobic FMCs and with glycoglycerophospholipid MfGL-II from Mycoplasma fermentans. The cross-reactivity of highly acetylated GalCer with microbial acyl-glycolipid raises the possibility that myelin-O-acetyl-cerebrosides, bacterial infection, and neurological disease are linked.

Molecular and immunogenic features of myelin lipids: incitants or modulators of multiple sclerosis?

Myelin lipids have long been thought to play intriguing roles in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS). This review summarizes current understanding of the molecular basis of MS with emphasis on the: (i.) physico-chemical properties, organization and accessibility of the lipids and their distribution within the myelin multilayer; (ii.) characterization of myelin lipid structures, and structure-function relationships relevant to MS mechanisms, and; (iii.) immunogenic and other features of lipids in MS including molecular mimicry, lipid enzyme genetic knockouts, glycolipid-reactive NKT cells, and monoclonal antibody-induced remyelination. New findings associate anti-lipid antibodies with pathophysiological biomarkers and suggest clinical utility. The structure of CD1d-lipid complexed with the lipophilic invariant T cell receptor (iTCR) may be crucial to understanding MS pathogenesis, and design of lipid antigen-specific therapeutics. Novel immuno-modulatory tools for treatment of autoimmune diseases including MS in which there is both constraint of inflammation and stimulation of remyelination are now emerging.

Cell-specific expression of neutral glycosphingolipids in vertebrate brain: immunochemical localization of 3-O-acetyl-sphingosine-series glycolipid(s) in myelin and oligodendrocytes

The tissue- and cell-specific expression of three neutral glycosphingolipids, gangliotetraosylceramide (GA1), gangliopentaosylceramide (GalNAc-GA1), and the novel 3-O-acetyl-sphingosine-series glycolipid (FMC-5), were examined with monospecific polyclonal antibodies. Immunohistochemical studies of rodent brain cross-sections indicated that both GA1 and FMC-5 antibodies stained myelin. In contrast, GalNAc-GA1 antibody distinctly stained neurons in cerebral cortex, but only partially delineated Purkinje cells and other neurons in cerebellum. Preliminary studies of mixed glial cultures suggested the following: 1) both FMC-5 and GA1 antibodies stained oligodendrocytes and oligo progenitors, and 2) GalNAc-GA1 antibody did not stain any cells in the culture. Because the GalNAc-GA1 was associated with neurons, we examined the immunoreactivity of GalNAc-GA1 antibody in primary neuronal cultures. Further studies using primary cultures of rat brain oligodendrocytes, and dissociated cerebellar neuronal cultures indicated that both GA1 and FMC-5 are specifically expressed by oligodendrocytes, whereas GalNAc-GA1 is primarily localized in interneurons and to some extent in Purkinje neurons.

Maternal alcohol consumption increases sphingosine levels in the brains of progeny mice

The effect of 'binge' alcohol upon sphingolipid metabolism in the fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) was examined in pregnant mice (C57BL/6J) by administering a single dose of alcohol during the third trimester (gestational day 15-16). The control mice were administered a sucrose solution of equal caloric value. Brains from progeny at postnatal days 5, 15, 21 and 30 were dissected into three regions, and sphingolipid concentrations of the brain regions were determined including assay of monoglycosylceramide, ceramide, sphingosine and sphingomyelin. We found that a single dose of ethanol induces an elevation of sphingosine (2-3.5-fold) in the brain of progeny. The level of brain ceramide at a dose of 1.5 g/kg was significantly higher than control. Alcohol consumption during pregnancy induces neuronal loss in progeny brains. Our result suggests that the elevation of sphingosine in progeny brain induced by maternal alcohol consumption may be responsible for observed neuronal loss in FAS.