Biological activities of non-enzymatic oxygenated metabolites of polyunsaturated fatty acids (NEO-PUFAs) derived from EPA and DHA: New anti-arrhythmic compounds?

Metabolites derived from radical oxidation of PUFA: NEO-PUFAs, promising molecules for health?

Oxidative stress plays a critical role in numerous pathological processes. Under these stress conditions, the free radical-catalyzed lipid peroxidation generates in vivo a large number of key products that are involved in many physiological and pathophysiological processes. Among these products are neuroprostanes, which arise from the peroxidation of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and isoprostanes, resulting from arachidonic acid (AA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) through the same peroxidation process. These non-enzymatic oxygenated metabolites newly appointed NEO-PUFAs have gained recognition as reliable markers of oxidative stress in neurogenerative and cardiovascular diseases. Moreover, some of them display a wide range of biological activities. The ability to detect and measure these metabolites offers precious insights into the mechanisms of oxidative damage and holds potential therapeutic implications for various health conditions, including neurodegenerative diseases. This review focuses on the role of neuroprostanes as biomarkers for oxidative stress and related diseases, highlighting their potential applications in medical research and treatment.

Omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acid oxidation ratio as a novel inflammation resolution marker for metabolic complications in obesity

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The oxidative metabolism of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) leads to bioactive isoprostanoids. The aim was to establish the associations of a complete urinary isoprostanoid profiling in a cohort study of carefully phenotyped obese subjects to determine possible potential differential implications for omega-6 PUFA- and omega-3 PUFA-derived isoprostanoids for obesity, metabolic indicators, and inflammation.

METHODS AND RESULTS

PUFA peroxidation compounds were determined in urine samples from obese human subjects (n = 46) by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry. Increased omega-6 arachidonic acid (AA) oxidation, mainly represented by 5-F_2c isoprostane (5-F_2c-IsoP) and metabolites of 15-F_2t-IsoP, was associated with body mass index, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and mean arterial blood pressure. In addition, we identified the omega-3 PUFA-derived urinary metabolites 14-F_4t-NeuroP from docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and 5-F_3t-IsoP from eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), which declined with age. The omega-3 to omega-6 oxidation ratio was a significant predictor of inflammation in obesity.

CONCLUSION

The findings point to full urinary isoprostanoid profiling as a more sensitive measure of PUFA oxidative stress in obesity-induced metabolic complications compared with individual isoprostanoid measures. Furthermore, the results suggest the balance between the omega-3 and omega-6 PUFA oxidation as determinative for the consequences of oxidative stress on inflammation in obesity.

Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids: Conversion to Lipid Mediators, Roles in Inflammatory Diseases and Dietary Sources

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are important components of the diet of mammals. Their role was first established when the essential fatty acids (EFAs) linoleic acid and α-linolenic acid were discovered nearly a century ago. However, most of the biochemical and physiological actions of PUFAs rely on their conversion to 20C or 22C acids and subsequent metabolism to lipid mediators. As a generalisation, lipid mediators formed from n-6 PUFAs are pro-inflammatory while those from n-3 PUFAs are anti-inflammatory or neutral. Apart from the actions of the classic eicosanoids or docosanoids, many newly discovered compounds are described as Specialised Pro-resolving Mediators (SPMs) which have been proposed to have a role in resolving inflammatory conditions such as infections and preventing them from becoming chronic. In addition, a large group of molecules, termed isoprostanes, can be generated by free radical reactions and these too have powerful properties towards inflammation. The ultimate source of n-3 and n-6 PUFAs are photosynthetic organisms which contain Δ-12 and Δ-15 desaturases, which are almost exclusively absent from animals. Moreover, the EFAs consumed from plant food are in competition with each other for conversion to lipid mediators. Thus, the relative amounts of n-3 and n-6 PUFAs in the diet are important. Furthermore, the conversion of the EFAs to 20C and 22C PUFAs in mammals is rather poor. Thus, there has been much interest recently in the use of algae, many of which make substantial quantities of long-chain PUFAs or in manipulating oil crops to make such acids. This is especially important because fish oils, which are their main source in human diets, are becoming limited. In this review, the metabolic conversion of PUFAs into different lipid mediators is described. Then, the biological roles and molecular mechanisms of such mediators in inflammatory diseases are outlined. Finally, natural sources of PUFAs (including 20 or 22 carbon compounds) are detailed, as well as recent efforts to increase their production.

Rice Bran Lipidome Identifies Novel Phospholipids, Glycolipids, and Oxylipins with Roles in Lipid Metabolism of Hypercholesterolemic Children

SCOPE

The purpose of the study is to characterize the chemical diversity in rice bran (RB) lipidome and determines whether daily RB consumption for 4 weeks may modulate plasma lipid profiles in children.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Untargeted and targeted lipidomics via ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) are applied to identify bioactive RB lipids from a collection of 17 rice varieties. To determine the impact of RB (Calrose-USA variety) supplementation on plasma lipid profile, a secondary analysis of plasma lipidome is conducted on data recorded in a clinical study (NCT01911390, n = 18 moderately hypercholesterolemic children) before and after 4 weeks of dietary intervention with a control or RB supplemented (15 g day^-1 ) snack. Untargeted lipidomic reveals 118 lipids as the core of lipidome across all varieties among which phospholipids are abundant and oxylipins present. Phytoprostanes and phytofurans are quantified and characterized. Lipidome analysis of the children plasma following RB consumption reveals the presence of polar lipids and oxylipins alongside putative modulations in endocannabinoids associated with RB consumption.

CONCLUSION

The investigation of novel polar lipids, oxylipins, phytoprostanes, and phytofurans in RB extracts provides support for new health-promoting properties interesting for people at risk for cardiometabolic disease.

F4-Neuroprostane Effects on Human Sperm

Swim-up selected human sperm were incubated with 7 ng F₄-neuroprostanes (F₄-NeuroPs) for 2 and 4 h. Sperm motility and membrane mitochondrial potential (MMP) were evaluated. The percentage of reacted acrosome was assessed by pisum sativum agglutinin (PSA). Chromatin integrity was detected using the acridine orange (AO) assay and localization of the ryanodine receptor was performed by immunofluorescence analysis. Sperm progressive motility (p = 0.02) and the percentage of sperm showing a strong MMP signal (p = 0.012) significantly increased after 2 h F₄-NeuroP incubation compared to control samples. The AO assay did not show differences in the percentage of sperm with dsDNA between treated or control samples. Meanwhile, a significantly higher number of sperm with reacted acrosomes was highlighted by PSA localization after 4 h F₄-NeuroP incubation. Finally, using an anti-ryanodine antibody, the immunofluorescence signal was differentially distributed at 2 and 4 h: a strong signal was evident in the midpiece and postacrosomal sheath (70% of sperm) at 2 h, whereas a dotted one appeared at 4 h (53% of sperm). A defined concentration of F₄-NeuroPs in seminal fluid may induce sperm capacitation via channel ions present in sperm cells, representing an aid during in vitro sperm preparation that may increase the positive outcome of assisted fertilization.

Polyunsaturated fatty acids and fatty acid-derived lipid mediators: Recent advances in the understanding of their biosynthesis, structures, and functions

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are structural components of membrane phospholipids, and influence cellular function via effects on membrane properties, and also by acting as a precursor pool for lipid mediators. These lipid mediators are formed via activation of pathways involving at least one step of dioxygen-dependent oxidation, and are consequently called oxylipins. Their biosynthesis can be either enzymatically-dependent, utilising the promiscuous cyclooxygenase, lipoxygenase, or cytochrome P450 mixed function oxidase pathways, or nonenzymatic via free radical-catalyzed pathways. The oxylipins include the classical eicosanoids, comprising prostaglandins, thromboxanes, and leukotrienes, and also more recently identified lipid mediators. With the advent of new technologies there is growing interest in identifying these different lipid mediators and characterising their roles in health and disease. This review brings together contributions from some of those at the forefront of research into lipid mediators, who provide brief introductions and summaries of current understanding of the structure and functions of the main classes of nonclassical oxylipins. The topics covered include omega-3 and omega-6 PUFA biosynthesis pathways, focusing on the roles of the different fatty acid desaturase enzymes, oxidized linoleic acid metabolites, omega-3 PUFA-derived specialized pro-resolving mediators, elovanoids, nonenzymatically oxidized PUFAs, and fatty acid esters of hydroxy fatty acids.

Modulation of the Primary Astrocyte-Enriched Cultures' Oxylipin Profiles Reduces Neurotoxicity

Recently, manipulations with reactive astrocytes have been viewed as a new therapeutic approach that will enable the development of treatments for acute brain injuries and neurodegenerative diseases. Astrocytes can release several substances, which may exert neurotoxic or neuroprotective effects, but the nature of these substances is still largely unknown. In the present work, we tested the hypothesis that these effects may be attributed to oxylipins, which are synthesized from n-3 or n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). We used astrocyte-enriched cultures and found that: (1) lipid fractions secreted by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated rat primary astrocyte-enriched cultures-possessed neurotoxic activity in rat primary neuronal cultures; (2) both of the tested oxylipin synthesis inhibitors, ML355 and Zileuton, reduce the LPS-stimulated release of interleukin 6 (IL-6) by astrocyte cultures, but only ML355 can change lipid fractions from neurotoxic to non-toxic; and (3) oxylipin profiles, measured by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) from neurotoxic and non-toxic lipid fractions, reveal a group of n-3 docosahexaenoic acid derivatives, hydroxydocosahexaenoic acids (HdoHEs)-4-HdoHE, 8-HdoHE, and 17-HdoHE, which may reflect the neuroprotective features of lipid fractions. Regulating the composition of astrocyte oxylipin profiles may be suggested as an approach for regulation of neurotoxicity in inflammatory processes.

F4-Neuroprostanes: A Role in Sperm Capacitation

F₄-neuroprostanes (F₄-NeuroPs), derived from the oxidative metabolization of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), are considered biomarkers of oxidative stress in neurodegenerative diseases. Neurons and spermatozoa display a high DHA content. NeuroPs might possess biological activities. The aim of this in vitro study was to investigate the biological effects of chemically synthetized 4-F_4t-NeuroP and 10-F_4t-NeuroP in human sperm. Total progressive sperm motility (p < 0.05) and linearity (p = 0.016), evaluated by a computer-assisted sperm analyzer, were significantly increased in samples incubated with 7 ng F₄-NeuroPs compared to non-supplemented controls. Sperm capacitation was tested in rabbit and swim-up-selected human sperm by chlortetracycline fluorescence assay. A higher percentage of capacitated sperm (p < 0.01) was observed in samples incubated in F₄-NeuroPs than in the controls. However, the percentage of capacitated sperm was not different in F₄-NeuroPs and calcium ionophore treatments at 2 h incubation. The phosphorylated form of AMPKα was detected by immunofluorescence analysis; after 2 h F₄-NeuroP incubation, a dotted signal appeared in the entire sperm tail, and in controls, sperm were labeled in the mid-piece. A defined level of seminal F₄-NeuroPs (7 ng) showed a biological activity in sperm function; its addition in sperm suspensions stimulated capacitation, increasing the number of sperm able to fertilize.

Moving forward with isoprostanes, neuroprostanes and phytoprostanes: where are we now?

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are essential components in eukaryotic cell membrane. They take part in the regulation of cell signalling pathways and act as precursors in inflammatory metabolism. Beside these, PUFAs auto-oxidize through free radical initiated mechanism and release key products that have various physiological functions. These products surfaced in the early nineties and were classified as prostaglandin isomers or isoprostanes, neuroprostanes and phytoprostanes. Although these molecules are considered robust biomarkers of oxidative damage in diseases, they also contain biological activities in humans. Conceptual progress in the last 3 years has added more understanding about the importance of these molecules in different fields. In this chapter, a brief overview of the past 30 years and the recent scope of these molecules, including their biological activities, biosynthetic pathways and analytical approaches are discussed.

Isoprostanes in Veterinary Medicine: Beyond a Biomarker

Oxidative stress has been associated with many pathologies, in both human and animal medicine. Damage to tissue components such as lipids is a defining feature of oxidative stress and can lead to the generation of many oxidized products, including isoprostanes (IsoP). First recognized in the early 1990s, IsoP are formed in numerous biological fluids and tissues, chemically stable, and easily measured by noninvasive means. Additionally, IsoP are highly specific indicators of lipid peroxidation and thereby are regarded as excellent biomarkers of oxidative stress. Although there have been many advancements in the detection and use of IsoP as a biomarker, there is still a paucity of knowledge regarding the biological activity of these molecules and their potential roles in pathology of oxidative stress. Furthermore, the use of IsoP has been limited in veterinary species thus far and represents an avenue of opportunity for clinical applications in veterinary practice. Examples of clinical applications of IsoP in veterinary medicine include use as a novel biomarker to guide treatment recommendations or as a target to mitigate inflammatory processes. This review will discuss the history, biosynthesis, measurement, use as a biomarker, and biological action of IsoP, particularly in the context of veterinary medicine.

Docosahexaenoic acid nanoencapsulated with anti-PECAM-1 as co-therapy for atherosclerosis regression

Atherosclerosis is a non-resolving inflammatory condition that underlies major cardiovascular diseases.Recent clinical trial using an anti-inflammatory drug has showna reduction of cardiovascular mortality, but increased the susceptibility to infections. For this reason, tissue target anti-inflammatory therapies can represent a better option to regress atherosclerotic plaques. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is a natural omega 3 fatty acidcomponentof algae oil and acts asaprecursor of several anti-inflammatory compounds, such the specialized proresolving lipid mediators(SPMs). During the atherosclerosis process, the inflammatory condition of the endothelium leads to the higher expression of adhesion molecules, such as Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule Plate 1 (PECAM-1 or CD31), as part of the innate immune response. Thus, the objective of this study was to develop lipid-core nanocapsules with DHA constituting the nucleus and anti-PECAM-1 on their surface and drive this structure to the inflamed endothelium. Nanocapsules were prepared by interfacial deposition of pre-formed polymer method. Zinc-II was added to bind anti-PECAM-1 to the nanocapsule surface by forming an organometallic complex. Swelling experiment showed that the algae oil act as non-solvent for the polymer (weight constant weight for 60 days, p > 0.428) indicating an adequate material to produce kinetically stable lipid-core nanocapsules (LNC). Five formulations were synthesized: Lipid-core nanocapsules containing DHA (LNC-DHA) or containing Medium-chain triglycerides (LNC-MCT), multi-wall nanocapsules containing DHA (MLNC-DHA) or containing MCT (MLNC-MCT) and the surface-functionalized (anti-PECAM-1) metal-complex multi-wall nanocapsules containing DHA (MCMN-DHA-a1). All formulations showed homogeneous macroscopic aspects without aggregation. The mean size of the nanocapsules measured by laser diffraction did not show difference among the samples (p = 0.241). Multi-wall nanocapsules (MLNC) showed a slight increase in the mean diameter and polydispersity index (PDI) measured by DLS, lower pH and an inversion in the zeta-potential (ξP) compared to LNCs. Conjugation test for anti-PECAM-1 showed 94.80% of efficiency. The mean diameter of the formulation had slightly increased from 160 nm (LCN-DHA) and 162 nm (MLNC-DHA) to 164 nm (MCMN-DHA-a1) indicating that the surface functionalization did not induce aggregation of the nanocapsules. Biological assays showed that the MCMN-DHA-a1 were uptaken by the HUVEC cells and did not decrease their viability. The surface-functionalized (anti- PECAM-1) metal-complex multi-wall nanocapsules containing DHA (MCMN-DHA-a1) can be considered adequate for pharmaceutical approaches.

Omega-3 fatty acid prevents the development of heart failure by changing fatty acid composition in the heart

Some clinical trials showed that omega-3 fatty acid (FA) reduced cardiovascular events, but it remains unknown whether omega-3 FA supplementation changes the composition of FAs and their metabolites in the heart and how the changes, if any, exert beneficial effects on cardiac structure and function. To clarify these issues, we supplied omega-3 FA to mice exposed to pressure overload, and examined cardiac structure and function by echocardiography and a proportion of FAs and their metabolites by gas chromatography and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, respectively. Pressure overload induced cardiac hypertrophy and dysfunction, and reduced concentration of all FAs’ components and increased free form arachidonic acid and its metabolites, precursors of pro-inflammatory mediators in the heart. Omega-3 FA supplementation increased both total and free form of eicosapentaenoic acid, a precursor of pro-resolution mediators and reduced free form arachidonic acid in the heart. Omega-3 FA supplementation suppressed expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines and the infiltration of inflammatory cells into the heart and ameliorated cardiac dysfunction and fibrosis. These results suggest that omega-3 FA-induced changes of FAs composition in the heart have beneficial effects on cardiac function via regulating inflammation.

Characterization and modulation of brain lipids content of rainbow trout fed with 100% plant based diet rich in omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids DHA and EPA

Brain functions are known to be mainly modulated by adequate dietary intake. Inadequate intake as can be an excess or significant deficiency affect cognitive processes, behavior, neuroendocrine functions and synaptic plasticity with protective or harmful effects on neuronal physiology. Lipids, in particular, ω-6 and ω-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) play structural roles and govern the different functions of the brain. Hence, the goal of this study was to characterize the whole brain fatty acid composition (precursors, enzymatic and non-enzymatic oxidation metabolites) of fish model of rainbow trout fed with three experimental plant-based diet containing distinct levels of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5 ω-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6 ω-3) (0% for low, 15.7% for medium and 33.4% for high, total fatty acid content) during nine weeks. Trout fed with the diet devoid of DHA and EPA showed reduced brain content of total ω-3 LC-PUFAs, with diminution of EPA and DHA. Selected enzymatic (cyclooxygenases and lipoxygenases) oxidation metabolites of arachidonic acid (AA, 20:4 ω-6) decrease in medium and high ω-3 LC-PUFAs diets. On the contrary, total selected enzymatic oxidation metabolites of DHA and EPA increased in high ω-3 LC-PUFAs diet. Total selected non-enzymatic oxidation metabolites of DHA (not detected for EPA) increased in medium and high ω-3 LC-PUFAs diets. In conclusion, this work revealed for the first time in fish model the presence of some selected enzymatic and non-enzymatic oxidation metabolites in brain and the modulation of brain lipid content by dietary DHA and EPA levels.

The Effect of Omega-3 Fatty Acids on Rheumatoid Arthritis

Omega-3 fatty acids are unsaturated fatty acids thought to play a role in health and disease. They are known as essential fatty acids, as they cannot be synthesized in mammals. Omega-3 fatty acids have a beneficial effect on the secondary prevention of coronary artery disease and stroke and are essential for the development and function of the nervous system and the retina in man. Omega-3 fatty acids are thought to have immunomodulatory properties as they act as precursors to lipid mediators of inflammation which may limit or modulate the inflammatory response. Omega-3 fatty acids seem to prevent or attenuate experimental arthritis. They may have a beneficial effect in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Clinical studies have shown that omega-3 fatty acids may have a modulatory effect on disease activity, namely on the number of swollen and tender joints. It appears that omega-3 fatty acids may modulate disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis.

Mexican Microalgae Biodiversity and State-Of-The-Art Extraction Strategies to Meet Sustainable Circular Economy Challenges: High-Value Compounds and Their Applied Perspectives

In recent years, the demand for naturally derived products has hiked with enormous pressure to propose or develop state-of-the-art strategies to meet sustainable circular economy challenges. Microalgae possess the flexibility to produce a variety of high-value products of industrial interests. From pigments such as phycobilins or lutein to phycotoxins and several polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), microalgae have the potential to become the primary producers for the pharmaceutical, food, and agronomical industries. Also, microalgae require minimal resources to grow due to their autotrophic nature or by consuming waste matter, while allowing for the extraction of several valuable side products such as hydrogen gas and biodiesel in a single process, following a biorefinery agenda. From a Mexican microalgae biodiversity perspective, more than 70 different local species have been characterized and isolated, whereas, only a minimal amount has been explored to produce commercially valuable products, thus ignoring their potential as a locally available resource. In this paper, we discuss the microalgae diversity present in Mexico with their current applications and potential, while expanding on their future applications in bioengineering along with other industrial sectors. In conclusion, the use of available microalgae to produce biochemically revenuable products currently represents an untapped potential that could lead to the solution of several problems through green technologies. As such, if the social, industrial and research communities collaborate to strive towards a greener economy by preserving the existing biodiversity and optimizing the use of the currently available resources, the enrichment of our society and the solution to several environmental problems could be attained.