Triacylglycerol in biomembranes

Salt stress alters membrane lipid content and lipid biosynthesis pathways in the plasma membrane and tonoplast

Plant cell membranes are the sites of sensing and initiation of rapid responses to changing environmental factors including salinity stress. Understanding the mechanisms involved in membrane remodeling is important for studying salt tolerance in plants. This task remains challenging in complex tissue due to suboptimal subcellular membrane isolation techniques. Here, we capitalized on the use of a surface charge-based separation method, free flow electrophoresis, to isolate the tonoplast (TP) and plasma membrane (PM) from leaf tissue of the halophyte ice plant (Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L.). Results demonstrated a membrane-specific lipidomic remodeling in this plant under salt conditions, including an increased proportion of bilayer forming lipid phosphatidylcholine in the TP and an increase in nonbilayer forming and negatively charged lipids (phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylserine) in the PM. Quantitative proteomics showed salt-induced changes in proteins involved in fatty acid synthesis and desaturation, glycerolipid, and sterol synthesis, as well as proteins involved in lipid signaling, binding, and trafficking. These results reveal an essential plant mechanism for membrane homeostasis wherein lipidome remodeling in response to salt stress contributes to maintaining the physiological function of individual subcellular compartments.

E-cig vapor condensate alters proteome and lipid profiles of membrane rafts: impact on inflammatory responses in A549 cells

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigs) are battery-operated heating devices that aerosolize e-liquid, typically containing nicotine and several other chemicals, which is then inhaled by a user. Over the past decade, e-cigs have gained immense popularity among both smokers and non-smokers. One reason for this is that they are advertised as a safe alternative to conventional cigarettes. However, the recent reports of e-cig use associated lung injury have ignited a considerable debate about the relative harm and benefits of e-cigs. The number of reports about e-cig-induced inflammation and pulmonary health is increasing as researchers seek to better understand the effects of vaping on human health. In line with this, we investigated the molecular events responsible for the e-cig vapor condensate (ECVC)-mediated inflammation in human lung adenocarcinoma type II epithelial cells (A549). In an attempt to limit the variables caused by longer ingredient lists of flavored e-cigs, tobacco-flavored ECVC (TF-ECVC±nicotine) was employed for this study. Interestingly, we observed significant upregulation of cytokines and chemokines (IL-6, IL-8, and MCP-1) in A549 cells following a 48 h TF-ECVC challenge. Furthermore, there was a significant increase in the expression of pattern recognition receptors TLR-4 and NOD-1, lipid raft-associated protein caveolin-1, and transcription factor NF-кB in TF-ECVC with and/or without nicotine-challenged lung epithelial cells. Our results further demonstrate the harboring of TLR-4 and NOD-1 in the caveolae of TF-ECVC-challenged A549 cells. Proteomic and lipidomic analyses of lipid raft fractions from control and challenged cells revealed a distinct protein and lipid profile in TF-ECVC (w/wo nicotine)-exposed A549 cells. Interestingly, the inflammatory effects of TF-ECVC (w/wo nicotine) were inhibited following the caveolin-1 knockdown, thus demonstrating a critical role of caveolae raft-mediated signaling in eliciting inflammatory responses upon TF-ECVC challenge. Graphical Abstract Graphical Abstract.

Stereochemistry, lipid length and branching influences Mincle agonist activity of monoacylglycerides

Herein, we report on the synthesis of a series of enantiomerically pure linear, iso-branched, and α-branched monoacyl glycerides (MAGs) in 63-72% overall yield. The ability of the MAGs to signal through human macrophage inducible C-type lectin (hMincle) using NFAT-GFP reporter cells was explored, as was the ability of the compounds to activate human monocytes. From these studies, MAGs with an acyl chain length ≥C22 were required for Mincle activation and the production of interleukin-8 (IL-8) by human monocytes. Moreover, the iso-branched MAGs led to a more pronounced immune response compared to linear MAGs, while an α-branched MAG containing a C-32 acyl chain activated cells to a higher degree than trehalose dibehenate (TDB), the prototypical Mincle agonist. Across the compound classes, the activity of the sn-1 substituted isomers was greater than the sn-3 counterparts. None of the representative compounds were cytotoxic, thus mitigating cytotoxicity as a potential mediator of cellular activity. Taken together, 6h (sn-1, iC26+1), 8a (sn-1, C32) and 8b (sn-3, C32) exhibited the best immunostimulatory properties and thus, have potential as vaccine adjuvants.

Culture age and carbamoylcholine increase the incorporation of endogenously synthesized linoleic acid in lipids of Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes

Physiological and cellular adaptations to environmental changes are known to be related to modifications in membrane lipids. This work provides metabolic and compositional evidence that Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes are able to synthesize and desaturate fatty acids, to incorporate them into their lipids, and to modify this incorporation when carbamoylcholine is present in the medium. The fatty acids formed from [2-(14)C]acetate in the period from 2 to 9 days were mostly (70%) incorporated in phospholipids, the remainder 30% being recovered in neutral lipids, such as triacylglycerols (TAG) and diacylglycerols (DAG). The main fatty acids formed from [2-(14)C]acetate were saturates (16:0, 18:0), monoenes (16:1, 18:1) and dienes (mostly 18:2). The ratios between labelled unsaturated and saturated fatty acids increased continuously with growth, consistent with a precursor-product relationship between the main fatty acids, and with the occurrence in T. cruzi of Delta(9)- and Delta(12)-desaturases. From days 2 to 5, [(14)C]18:2 was the main fatty acid produced. Accordingly, the fatty acid profiles showed a significant increase in the percentage of 18:2 in all lipids in the period under study, especially in the first 2 to 5 days. In the presence of carbamoylcholine, the labelling of DAG and TAG with [(14)C]18:2 augmented. The results indicate that T cruzi is able to synthesize the main types of fatty acids required to form its membrane lipids, and to exchange them actively in response to environmental stimuli.

Lipids in blood-brain barrier models in vitro I: Thin-layer chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography for the analysis of lipid classes and long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids

The objectives of this study were to optimize a sensitive high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for fatty acid (FA) analysis for the quantification of polyunsaturated FAs (PUFAs) in cell lipid extracts and to analyze the lipid and FA patterns of three cell lines used in blood-brain barrier (BBB) models: RBE4, ECV304, and C6. Thin-layer chromatographic analysis revealed differences in the phosphatidylcholine-phosphatidylethanolamine (PC:PE) ratios and the triglyceride (TG) content. The PC:PE ratio was <1 for RBE4 cells but >1 for ECV304 and C6 cells. ECV304 cells displayed up to 9% TG depending on culture time, whereas the other cell lines contained about 1% TG. The percentages of docosahexaenoic acid were 9.4 +/- 1.7% of the unsaturated FAs in RBE4 cells (n = 5; 4 d in culture; 9.9% after 10 d), 8.1 +/- 2.0% in ECV304 cells (n = 11; 10 to 14 d), and 6.7 +/- 0.6% in C6 cells (n = 6; 10 to 14 d) and were close to the published values for rat brain microvascular endothelium. The percentage of arachidonic acid (C20:4) was about half that in vivo. ECV304 cells contained the highest fraction of C20:4, 17.8 +/- 2.2%; RBE4 cells contained 11.6 +/- 2.4%; and C6 cells 15.8 +/- 1.9%. It is concluded that a sensitive HPLC method for FAs is now optimized for the analysis of long-chain PUFAs. The results provide a useful framework for studies on the effects of lipid modulation and give reference information for the development of further BBB models.

Lipids in blood-brain barrier models in vitro II: Influence of glial cells on lipid classes and lipid fatty acids

Lipids of brain tissue and brain microvascular endothelial cells contain high proportions of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (long PUFAs). The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is formed by the brain endothelial cells under the inductive influence of brain cells, especially perivascular glia, and coculture of endothelial cells and glial cells has been used to examine this induction. The objective of this study was to investigate whether C6 glioma cells are able to influence the lipid composition and shift the fatty acid (FA) patterns of the BBB model cell lines RBE4 and ECV304 toward the in vivo situation. Lipid classes of the three cell lines were analyzed by thin-layer chromatography and lipid FA patterns by high-performance liquid chromatography. Only ECV304 cells showed altered lipid composition in coculture with C6 cells. The fractions of triglycerides and cholesteryl esters (depending on the support filter) were about twice as high in coculture as when the cells were grown alone. Triglyceride fractions reached 13 to 15% of total lipids in coculture. The three cell lines showed an increase in the percentage of long PUFAs with respect to unsaturated FAs, mainly because of an increase in the percentages of arachidonic acid, all cis-7,10,13,16-docosatetraenoic acid, and all cis-7,10,13,16,19-docosapentaenoic acid. It is concluded that glioma C6 cells are able to induce a more in vivo-like FA pattern in BBB cell culture models. However, changes were not significant for the individual PUFAs, and their levels did not reach in vivo values.

Incorporation of exogenous precursors into neutral lipids and phospholipids in rat hepatocytes: effect of ethanol in vitro

We studied the incorporation of different radioactively labeled exogenous substrates into the lipids of rat hepatocytes previously incubated with ethanol. Glycerol, oleate, and serine were all incorporated into neutral lipids to a significantly greater degree in the presence of ethanol, the increase in radioactivity in the triacylglycerol fraction being quite substantial. A similar ethanol-induced increase was found in the incorporation of these substrates into the various phospholipids. This lipogenic activity did not occur when the metabolism of ethanol was blocked by 4-methylpyrazole, an inhibitor of hepatic ADH (alcohol:NAD+ oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.1.1) activity, thus demonstrating that one of the initial effects of ethanol on lipid biosynthesis was mediated by some products of its metabolism in the liver. The only alteration that persisted in the presence of 4-methylpyrazole was an inhibitory effect on the esterification of free cholesterol from oleate, suggesting that ethanol specifically inhibits hepatic ACAT (acyl CoA:cholesterol O-acyltransferase, EC 2.3.1.26) activity.

1H-NMR visible neutral lipids in activated T lymphocytes: relationship to phosphatidylcholine cycling

Two-dimensional 1H-NMR spectroscopy was used to compare changes in the concentration of isotropically-tumbling neutral lipid during the activation of splenic and thymic T lymphocytes. The concentration of mobile neutral lipid (MNL) was similar in splenic and thymic T cells after 72 h of activation with phorbol myristate acetate and ionomycin. However, after 120 h of activation, MNL concentrations in splenic T cells were more than 3-fold higher than in thymic T cells. An increase in choline (Cho), phosphocholine (PCho) and glycerophosphocholine (GPC) was also observed in both thymic and splenic T cells after 24 h of activation. However, after 72 h of stimulation, Cho and PCho levels had decreased and continued to decline at 96-120 h, while GPC continued to be maintained at elevated levels. The simultaneous increase in MNL and GPC and the decline in Cho and PCho leads us to propose that the synthesis of NMR-visible MNL in activated lymphocytes is linked to the phosphatidylcholine cycle.