Cholesterol-multilipid interactions in bilayers

Proton NMR visible mobile lipid signals in sensitive and multidrug-resistant K562 cells are modulated by rafts

Background

Most cancer cells are characterized by mobile lipids visible on proton NMR (¹H-NMR), these being comprised mainly of methyl and methylene signals from lipid acyl chains. Erythroleukemia K562 cells show narrow signals at 1.3 and 0.9 ppm, corresponding to mobile lipids (methylene and methyl, respectively), which are reduced when K562 cells are multidrug resistant (MDR). While the significance of the mobile lipids is unknown, their subcellular localization is still a matter of debate and may lie in the membrane or the cytoplasm. In this study, we investigate the role of cholesterol in the generation of mobile lipid signals.

Results

The proportion of esterified cholesterol was found to be higher in K562-sensitive cells than in resistant cells, while the total cholesterol content was identical in both cell lines. Cholesterol extraction in the K562 wild type (K562wt) cell line and its MDR counterpart (K562adr), using methyl-β-cyclodextrin, was accompanied by a rise of mobile lipids in K562wt cells only. The absence of caveolae was checked by searching for the caveolin-1 protein in K562wt and K562adr cells. However, cholesterol was enriched in another membrane microdomain designated as "detergent-insoluble glycosphingomyelin complexes" or rafts. These microdomains were studied after extraction with triton X-100, a mild non-ionic detergent, revealing mobile lipid signals preserved only in the K562wt spectra. Moreover, following perturbation/disruption of these microdomains using sphingomyelinase, mobile lipids increased only in K562wt cells.

Conclusion

These results suggest that cholesterol and sphingomyelin are involved in mobile lipid generation via microdomains of detergent-insoluble glycosphingomyelin complexes such as rafts. Increasing our knowledge of membrane microdomains in sensitive and resistant cell lines may open up new possibilities in resistance reversion.

An index of lipid phase diagrams

There is a growing awareness of the utility of lipid phase behavior data in studies of membrane-related phenomena. Such miscibility information is commonly reported in the form of temperature-composition (T-C) phase diagrams. The current index is a conduit to the relevant literature. It lists lipid phase diagrams, their components and conditions of measurement, and complete bibliographic information. The main focus of the index is on lipids of membrane origin where water is the dispersing medium. However, it also includes records on acylglycerols, fatty acids, cationic lipids, and detergent-containing systems. The miscibility of synthetic and natural lipids with other lipids, with water, and with biomolecules (proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, etc.) and non-biological materials (drugs, anesthetics, organic solvents, etc.) is within the purview of the index. There are 2188 phase diagram records in the index, the bulk (81%) of which refers to binary (two-component) T-C phase diagrams. The remainder is made up of more complex (ternary, quaternary) systems, pressure-T phase diagrams, and other more exotic miscibility studies. The index covers the period from 1965 through to July, 2001.

Preparation and properties of sterically stabilized hexadecylphosphocholine (miltefosine)-liposomes and influence of this modification on macrophage activation

The aim of the study was to investigate for the first time the preparation, physical properties and macrophage activating effect of sterically stabilized liposomes made from hexadecylphosphocholine (HPC, Miltefosine) using different poly(ethylene glycol) lipids for coating. We could demonstrate that it is possible to prepare different liposomal vesicle types (MLV, SUV and LUVET) without any problem and with a high stability in buffer (release of hydrophilic marker was < 5% after half a year) and in plasma (t1/2 up to several days). The preparation method, including size of polycarbon membrane filter used for the preparation of LUVETs had the main influence on vesicle size and size distribution. The addition of a charged lipid like DCP and different amounts of PEG-lipid up to 10% had no effect on size and stability of PEG-LUVETs. A comparison of activating potency of PEG-HPC-vesicles with commonly used HPC-liposomes was performed with mouse peritoneal macrophages. HPC-liposomes induced a clear release of NO and TNF from mouse peritoneal macrophages especially in a synergistical action with LPS. On the contrary the effect of PEG-liposomes was similar to control cells after a combined activation in vivo/in vitro. The reduced interaction of these liposomes with the MPS was also demonstrated by an unchanged carbon ink uptake after treatment of mice (i.p.) with liposomes prepared with and without PEG-lipid. PEG-HPC-liposomes combine the advantages of HPC, liposomes and PEG-coating, resulting in a promising preparation for treatment of mammary cancers.