Relationships between membrane lipid composition and biological properties of rat myocytes. Effects of aging and manipulation of lipid composition

Membrane polarization at the excitation threshold induced by external electric fields in cardiomyocytes of rats at different developmental stages

External electric fields (E), used for cardiac pacing and defibrillation/cardioversion, induce a spatially variable change in cardiomyocyte transmembrane potential (ΔVm) that depends on cell geometry and E orientation. This study investigates E-induced ΔVm in cardiomyocytes from rats at different ages, which show marked size/geometry variation. Using a tridimensional numerical electromagnetic model recently proposed (NM3D), it was possible: (a) to evaluate the suitability of the simpler, prolate spheroid analytical model (PSAM) to calculate amplitude and location of ΔVm maximum (ΔVmax) for E = 1 V.cm-1; and (b) to estimate the ΔVmax required for excitation (ΔVT) from experimentally determined threshold E values (ET). Ventricular myocytes were isolated from neonatal, weaning, adult, and aging Wistar rats. NM3D was constructed as the extruded 2D microscopy cell image, while measured minor and major cell dimensions were used for PSAM. Acceptable ΔVm estimates can be obtained with PSAM from paralelepidal cells for small θ. ET, but not ΔVT, was higher for neonate cells. ΔVT was significantly greater in the cell from older animals, which indicate lower responsiveness to E associated with aging, rather than with altered cell geometry/dimensions. ΔVT might be used as a non-invasive indicator of cell excitability as it is little affected by cell geometry/size.

Sarcolemmal dependence of cardiac protection and stress-resistance: roles in aged or diseased hearts

Disruption of the sarcolemmal membrane is a defining feature of oncotic death in cardiac ischaemia-reperfusion (I-R), and its molecular makeup not only fundamentally governs this process but also affects multiple determinants of both myocardial I-R injury and responsiveness to cardioprotective stimuli. Beyond the influences of membrane lipids on the cytoprotective (and death) receptors intimately embedded within this bilayer, myocardial ionic homeostasis, substrate metabolism, intercellular communication and electrical conduction are all sensitive to sarcolemmal makeup, and critical to outcomes from I-R. As will be outlined in this review, these crucial sarcolemmal dependencies may underlie not only the negative effects of age and common co-morbidities on myocardial ischaemic tolerance but also the on-going challenge of implementing efficacious cardioprotection in patients suffering accidental or surgically induced I-R. We review evidence for the involvement of sarcolemmal makeup changes in the impairment of stress-resistance and cardioprotection observed with ageing and highly prevalent co-morbid conditions including diabetes and hypercholesterolaemia. A greater understanding of membrane changes with age/disease, and the inter-dependences of ischaemic tolerance and cardioprotection on sarcolemmal makeup, can facilitate the development of strategies to preserve membrane integrity and cell viability, and advance the challenging goal of implementing efficacious 'cardioprotection' in clinically relevant patient cohorts. Linked Articles This article is part of a themed section on Molecular Pharmacology of G Protein-Coupled Receptors. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v173.20/issuetoc.

Lipid bilayer crossing--the gate of symmetry. Water-soluble phenylproline-based blood-brain barrier shuttles

Drug delivery to the brain can be achieved by various means, including blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption, neurosurgical-based approaches, and molecular design. Recently, passive diffusion BBB shuttles have been developed to transport low-molecular-weight drug candidates to the brain which would not be able to cross unaided. The low water solubility of these BBB shuttles has, however, prevented them from becoming a mainstream tool to deliver cargos across membranes. Here, we describe the design, synthesis, physicochemical characterization, and BBB-transport properties of phenylproline tetrapeptides, (PhPro)4, an improved class of BBB shuttles that operates via passive diffusion. These PhPro-based BBB shuttles showed 3 orders of magnitude improvement in water solubility compared to the gold-standard (N-MePhe)4, while retaining very high transport values. Transport capacity was confirmed when two therapeutically relevant cargos, nipecotic acid and l-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (i.e., l-DOPA), were attached to the shuttle. Additionally, we used the unique chiral and conformationally restricted character of the (PhPro)4 shuttle to probe its chiral interactions with the lipid bilayer of the BBB. We studied the transport properties of 16 (PhPro)4 stereoisomers using the parallel artificial membrane permeability assay and looked at differences in secondary structure. Most stereoisomers displayed excellent transport values, yet this study also revealed pairs of enantiomers with high enantiomeric discrimination and different secondary structure, where one enantiomer maintained its high transport values while the other had significantly lower values, thereby confirming that stereochemistry plays a significant role in passive diffusion. This could open the door to the design of chiral and membrane-specific shuttles with potential applications in cell labeling and oncology.

Muscular dystrophies at different ages: metabolic and endocrine alterations

Common metabolic and endocrine alterations exist across a wide range of muscular dystrophies. Skeletal muscle plays an important role in glucose metabolism and is a major participant in different signaling pathways. Therefore, its damage may lead to different metabolic disruptions. Two of the most important metabolic alterations in muscular dystrophies may be insulin resistance and obesity. However, only insulin resistance has been demonstrated in myotonic dystrophy. In addition, endocrine disturbances such as hypogonadism, low levels of testosterone, and growth hormone have been reported. This eventually will result in consequences such as growth failure and delayed puberty in the case of childhood dystrophies. Other consequences may be reduced male fertility, reduced spermatogenesis, and oligospermia, both in childhood as well as in adult muscular dystrophies. These facts all suggest that there is a need for better comprehension of metabolic and endocrine implications for muscular dystrophies with the purpose of developing improved clinical treatments and/or improvements in the quality of life of patients with dystrophy. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to describe the current knowledge about of metabolic and endocrine alterations in diverse types of dystrophinopathies, which will be divided into two groups: childhood and adult dystrophies which have different age of onset.

Emergence of superstructures from a homogeneous lipid sphere

The spontaneous generation of a periodic hexagonal superstructure on a giant phospholipid sphere (GPS) with a diameter of 20-200 microm was studied. The GPS was composed of ternary phospholipids consisting of dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE), dioleoylphosphatidylcholine (DOPC), and dioleoylphosphatidylinositol-bisphosphate (DOPIP(2)). GPSs were prepared by natural swelling of a lipid film formed on a glass substrate. A GPS with a homogeneous lipid mixture tends to form a two-layered structure between the surface and inner parts; the surface layer is attributed to a DOPIP(2) rich region (we call this layer SL), and the interior is rich in DOPE and DOPC (we call this layer IL). A hexagonal superstructure develops in the SL, and the topology then changes to form multiple-doughnut structures. Finally, myelin-like tubes are generated through symmetry breaking of the doughnutlike structures. The time-dependent change in the surface-area expansion of a GPS is shown to obey the logistic growth model, and this is attributed to the kinetic process of phase segregation between the surface and bulk phase of the GPS.

Physicochemical and biological characterization of ceramide-containing liposomes: paving the way to ceramide therapeutic application

Ceramides mediate antiproliferative responses, and it has been proposed that increasing the level of ceramides in cancer cells may have a therapeutic antitumor effect. However, ceramides, because of their high "packing parameter" (PP), do not form lipid assemblies that can be dispersed in a form suitable for intravenous administration. We found that nanoliposomes containing short- or medium-chain ceramides are unstable because of their very high (>1.3) PP. To overcome this major obstacle, we included the lipopolymer 2kPEG-DSPE, which reduces the additive PP. The presence of PEG-DSPE allows the formation of highly stable (>1 year) ceramide (Cer)-containing nanoliposomes suitable for systemic administration. Using tumor cell lines, we found that the ceramide cytotoxicity was not impaired by their inclusion in nanoliposomes. The use of 14C-labeled ceramides shows that the C6Cer, but not C16Cer, was transferred from the nanoliposomes to the cells and metabolized efficiently. The difference between the two ceramides is related to the large difference between their critical aggregation concentration and was correlated with the much higher cytotoxity of liposomal C6Cer. The activity of 2kPEG-DSPE as a steric stabilizer (as previously shown for Doxil) was also confirmed for C6Cer-containing nanoliposomes. The 2kPEG-DSPE lipopolymer significantly reduced the desorption rate of the ceramide from the liposome bilayer, thereby allowing liposomes containing C6Cer to reach the tumor site and to demonstrate therapeutic efficacy.

Microarray analysis of gene expression profiles of cardiac myocytes and fibroblasts after mechanical stress, ionising or ultraviolet radiation

Background

During excessive pressure or volume overload, cardiac cells are subjected to increased mechanical stress (MS). We set out to investigate how the stress response of cardiac cells to MS can be compared to genotoxic stresses induced by DNA damaging agents. We chose for this purpose to use ionising radiation (IR), which during mediastinal radiotherapy can result in cardiac tissue remodelling and diminished heart function, and ultraviolet radiation (UV) that in contrast to IR induces high concentrations of DNA replication- and transcription-blocking lesions.

Results

Cultures enriched for neonatal rat cardiac myocytes (CM) or fibroblasts were subjected to any one of the three stressors. Affymetrix microarrays, analysed with Linear Modelling on Probe Level, were used to determine gene expression patterns at 24 hours after (the start of) treatment. The numbers of differentially expressed genes after UV were considerably higher than after IR or MS. Remarkably, after all three stressors the predominant gene expression response in CM-enriched fractions was up-regulation, while in fibroblasts genes were more frequently down-regulated. To investigate the activation or repression of specific cellular pathways, genes present on the array were assigned to 25 groups, based on their biological function. As an example, in the group of cholesterol biosynthesis a significant proportion of genes was up-regulated in CM-enriched fractions after MS, but down-regulated after IR or UV.

Conclusion

Gene expression responses after the types of cellular stress investigated (MS, IR or UV) have a high stressor and cell type specificity.

Quantitation and molecular species determination of diacylglycerols, phosphatidylcholines, ceramides, and sphingomyelins with gas chromatography

In addition to the role of building block for biological membranes, phospholipids and their metabolites have been implicated in other important cellular functions, such as proliferation and apoptosis. Ceramides and their precursor, sphingomyelin, are thought to play a role in cellular apoptosis. In contrast, the metabolism of diacylglycerols and one of their precursors, phosphatidylcholine, is thought to be partly responsible for the opposite effect, cellular proliferation. Quantitative determination of these lipids in biological samples is important in investigating the complicated interactions between these molecules. In this report, we describe a capillary gas chromatographic procedure for the quantitative determination of molecular species of diacylglycerols, ceramides, phosphatidylcholines, and sphingomyelins. Lipid extracts are separated into these classes with a silica gel column. Diacylglycerols and ceramides are analyzed as trimethylsilyl derivatives. Phosphatidylcholines and sphingomyelins are converted to their diacylglycerol and ceramide components with sphingomyelinase hydrolysis. Internal standards for each analyzed fraction are used in the procedure. This method is used to determine the lipids in liver homogenate and subcellular fractions, including mitochondria, light mitochondria, and microsomes from young and old Fischer 344 rats. Our data show that the ceramide and sphingomyelin content is higher in the mitochondria of old rats. This relationship is consistent with the potential role of ceramide in mitochondria-induced apoptosis. More study is needed to substantiate this relationship.

Effects of troglitazone on intracellular cholesterol distribution and cholesterol-dependent cell functions in MA-10 Leydig tumor cells

Troglitazone treatment of MA-10 Leydig tumor cells resulted in cellular cholesteryl esters decreasing and cell free cholesterol increasing. This was not an effect unique to this chemical entity; rosiglitazone and pioglitazone caused these changes also. The excess free cholesterol was recovered largely in the cholesterol oxidase susceptible, plasma membrane cholesterol pool. This effect of troglitazone probably is not mediated by activation of peroxisome proliferator activated receptors since it immediately reversed with washing and did not occur at all in cells treated with the peroxisome proliferator activated receptor agonist, 15-deoxy Delta 12,14 prostaglandin J-2. Plasma membrane cholesterol esterification was inhibited by troglitazone in a dose-dependent manner. Plasma membrane cholesterol esterification was inhibited half-maximally by 14 microM troglitazone and by more than 90% by 40 microM troglitazone. This effect was not unique for MA-10 cells. Similar results were found using fibroblasts. Troglitazone was not simply inhibiting internalization of plasma membrane cholesterol. Dibutyryl-cAMP stimulation of troglitazone-treated cells resulted in more progesterone synthesis than in stimulated control cells; moreover, radioactive plasma membrane cholesterol was readily converted into progesterone in troglitazone-treated cells. Studies of LDL uptake in troglitazone-treated cells indicated that intracellular membranes were cholesterol replete. Troglitazone inhibited plasma membrane cholesterol esterification with kinetics similar to 58-035, a known inhibitor of the acyl coenzyme A: cholesterol acyltranserase (ACAT) enzyme. It is not likely an ACAT inhibitor since troglitazone did not block incorporation of exogenous free fatty acids into cholesteryl esters. Thus, it appears that troglitazone prevented presentation of free fatty acid to the ACAT enzyme.

Heat acclimation in rats: modulation via lipid polyunsaturation

Heat acclimation of rats has been shown to enhance endurance of rat hearts to ischemic insult and acute heat stress. Common protective features have been shown to be operative during both these stress-inducing conditions. To explore the role of membrane lipid composition in the adaptive response, we analyzed two major parameters that impact membrane dynamics and order, the nonesterified cholesterol levels and the acyl chain composition of phospholipids, in rat heart and salivary glands, both major thermoregulatory organs, in short- and long-term heat-acclimated rats. Before exposure to heat, control salivary gland tissue has a higher cholesterol-to-phospholipid mole ratio (0.32 +/- 0.02) than heart (0.14 +/- 0.01), and the acyl chains of its phospholipids are 50% more saturated. The remodeling strategies of the tissues after exposure to heat differed. Heart cholesterol levels increased after short-term heat acclimation (approximately 50%), whereas salivary gland cholesterol levels decreased in acute heat stress and long-term heat acclimation (approximately 32%). Remodeling of phospholipid acyl chains, particularly an increase in docosahexaenoic acid, was a protective strategy in both tissues (57% in heart and >100% in salivary glands). Modifying membrane lipid composition by treating rats with liposomes composed of egg phosphatidylcholine (PC) before exposure to heat resulted in a 38% increase in endurance to thermal stress. The density and affinity of muscarinic receptors of submaxillary salivary glands, involved in the acclimation response, were measured in control and PC liposome-treated rats, and then both groups were subjected to short-term heat acclimation. After PC treatment the well-established compensatory upregulation of the muscarinic receptors and concomitant decrease in their affinity was blunted. The substantial increase in the thermal endurance of heat-challenged intact rats after treatment with PC liposomes (600 vs. 200 min) suggests that membrane lipid composition plays a role in the ability of these tissues to respond to heat stress.

Lipids of three microsporidian species and multivariate analysis of the host-parasite relationship

Sporal lipids of 3 microsporidia, Encephalitozoon cuniculi from mammals and Glugea atherinae and Spraguea lophii from fishes, were investigated. High phospholipid levels were found (54.8-64.5% of total lipids), which is in agreement with the presence of highly developed internal membranes in microsporidian spores. Sphingomyelin was not detected in G. atherinae. Triglycerides (less than 10% of total lipids), cholesterol, and free fatty acids were identified in all species. Analysis of fatty acids from the phospholipid fraction revealed the predominance of docosahexaenoic acid (30-40% of total phospholipid fatty acids) in G. atherinae and S. lophii and oleic acid (25.8% of total phospholipid fatty acids) in E. cuniculi. The 3 microsporidia possessed a significant amount of branched-chain fatty acids (iso and anteiso forms) not found in the hosts, supporting the existence of some parasite-specific metabolic steps for these fatty acids. On the basis of phospholipid fatty acid profiles, host-parasite relationships were investigated through correspondence factorial analysis. It shows 3 distinct clusters with the first corresponding to fishes, the second to fish parasites, and the third to E. cuniculi and its host cell. These data suggest that the mammal microsporidia developing within parasitophorous vacuoles are more dependent on host cells than the fish microsporidia that induce cystlike structures.

Differential effect of aging on cholesterol modulation of carbachol-stimulated low-K(m) GTPase in striatal synaptosomes

Previous research has suggested that age-related decline in physiological functions may be the result of substantial alterations in membrane molecular structure. The purpose of the present experiments was to elucidate the role of cholesterol domains in the age-related decline in receptor-G-protein interactions in striatal synaptosomes. We observed a significant age-related deficit in muscarinic cholinergic stimulated Low-Km GTPase activity and its age-related susceptibility to cholesterol treatment in range of 10(-10)-10(-5) M. Treatment of synaptosomes from old rats with cholesterol in range of 10(-8)-10(-6) M restored the Low-Km GTPase activity up to the level seen in young animals and reached a maximum at 10(-7) M. In synaptosomes from young rats, however, cholesterol treatment did not have any effect on striatal Low-Km GTPase activity. We observed significant alterations in the membrane lipid composition of striatal synaptosomes as a function of age. Our results suggested a significant interaction of age and cholesterol treatment on physical properties of striatal synaptosomes. Thus, the present results of experiments in vitro support our previous results of experiments in vivo and suggested an interaction of cholesterol domains with muscarinic-cholinergic receptor G-protein alpha subunit coupling/uncoupling through regulation of physical properties of striatal synaptosomes.

The effect of different molecular species of sphingomyelin on phospholipase C delta 1 activity

Bovine brain sphingomyelin was separated into different molecular species using a reverse phase column. PLC delta 1 was inhibited by all molecular species of sphingomyelin. The extent of this inhibition was dependent on the hydrophobicity. Based on fatty acid analysis, we conclude that the inhibition of PLC delta 1 depends on the chain length and degree of unsaturation of the fatty acid moiety of SM. N-palmitoyl-D-sphingomyelin and N-stearoyl-D-sphingomyelin inhibited PLC delta 1 less then N-oleoyl-D-sphingomyelin. In the absence of Ca2+ (1 mM EGTA) all tested molecular species of SM inhibited weakly the enzyme. The sensitivity of PLC delta 1 to inhibition by SM increased with increasing Ca2+ concentration. The shape of calcium curve differed for molecular species with saturated and unsaturated fatty acids. Inhibition of PLC delta 1 by N-palmitoyl-D-sphingomyelin and N-stearoyl-D-sphingomyelin reached a maximum at 0.2 microM Ca2+, while inhibition by N-oleoyl-D-sphingomyelin reached maximum at 2 microM Ca2+. PLC delta 1 is more sensitive to inhibition by SM when it is maximally activated by spermine and calcium and the extent of this inhibition depends on the length and degree of fatty acid unsaturation of the molecular species.

Comparison of aging and hypercholesterolemic effects on the sodium inward currents in cardiac myocytes

To study and to compare the hypercholesterolemic and aging effect on the sodium inward currents (I(Na)) in cardiac myocytes, whole-cell clamp recordings were made in single cardiac myocyte isolated from normo- and diet-induced hypercholesterolemic rabbits of different age groups. The cell capacitance of adult and hyperlipidemic myocytes seemed larger than that of young and normolipidemic ones. However, the sodium current density at a holding potential of -80 mV on adult and hypercholesterolemic ventricular sarcolemma was significantly lower than that on young and normolipidemic one (adult hyperlipidemic: -15.3+/-2.4 pA/pF (n=16), adult control: -28.1+/-3.4 pA/pF (n=13), young hyperlipidemic: -39.5+/-5.4 pA/pF (n=19), young control: -67.3+/-7.8 pA/pF (n=12)). In aging process, this effect was due to a decrease in channel number, a leftward shift in the inactivation potential and a slowing of the time course of recovery. In hypercholesterolemia, however, the major cause was due to the functional change of sodium currents. In addition to decreasing the sodium current magnitude, hypercholesterolemia lowered the threshold for excitation of cardiac myocytes (-50 mV vs -40 mV). In conclusion, aging process depressed the sodium channel activity in ventricular myocytes. In addition to inducing some similar functional alterations of I(Na) as aging process, long-term hypercholesterolemia could also increase the excitability in cardiac myocytes, which was different from aging process.

Manipulation of lipid composition of rat heart myocytes aged in culture and its effect on alpha1-adrenoceptor stimulation

The fatty acid composition of the phosphoinositides was evaluated in cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes during the aging-like process in vitro, comparing data obtained from control and gamma-linolenic acid supplemented cardiomyocytes. The response to alpha1 stimulation was evaluated in both control and supplemented cells to verify the relationship between the alterations of the phosphoinositide fatty acid composition concomitant to culture aging and the cell response to exogenous stimuli. Arachidonate level decreased as a function of age in all the phosphoinositides, which appeared to be more saturated as cells aged in culture. Inositol phosphate production in response to alpha1 stimulation decreased as cells aged in culture. Supplementation of culture medium with gamma-linolenic acid caused significant modifications in the fatty acid pattern of the phosphoinositides, which appeared less saturated than the corresponding fractions isolated from unsupplemented cells during the aging-like process. The modifications induced by the supplementation in the phosphoinositide fatty acid composition prevented the age-related reduction of inositol phosphate production upon stimulation. These results clearly indicate a major role for the lipid composition in determining the response to alpha1 stimulation, suggesting a nutritional approach to overcome some of the impairments of molecular events related to the process of aging.

Age-related changes in essential fatty acid metabolism in cultured rat heart myocytes

We previously demonstrated that cultured neonatal rat myocytes have the capacity to desaturate/elongate essential fatty acids, alpha-linolenic acid conversion being higher than linoleic acid conversion. The whole process of highly unsaturated fatty acid formation from linoleic and alpha-linolenic acids slows with aging. In this study we grew heart myocytes in culture for different periods of time, and we observed a decrease in the desaturating/elongating activities for both substrates as the cells aged in culture. Alpha-linolenic acid conversion into highly unsaturated fatty acids was less impaired by aging than linoleic acid conversion. These modifications are correlated to the age-dependent alterations observed in the total lipid fatty acid composition, which caused a decrease in the unsaturation index. Changes in the lipid composition that occur in aging cultures parallel those reported for several tissues upon aging in the whole animal. The data herein reported may suggest the possibility of counteracting the effects of aging on lipid metabolism by supplementing cultures with appropriate amounts of highly unsaturated fatty acids.

Cytosolic calcium ions regulate lipid mobility in the plasma membrane of the human megakaryoblastic cell line MEG-01

The fluidity of the plasma membrane is thought to play a role in the activation of blood platelets. We investigated the lateral diffusion of the lipophilic probe 1,1'-ditetradecyl-3,3,3',3'-tetramethyl-indocarbocyanine perchlorate (DiIC14) and derivatives in the plasma membrane of the megakaryoblast MEG-01 by fluorescence recovery after photobleaching. The lateral diffusion coefficient (D) of DiIC14 in an unstimulated cell was (3.53 +/- 0.06) x 10(-9) cm2/s with a mobile fraction of 75%. Similar data were found with DiIC12 and DiIC18, but lipophilic probes specific for the outer leaflet showed a slower diffusion with a D value of (2.99 +/- 0.31) x 10(-9) cm2/s and a mobile fraction of 58%. Stimulation with platelet-activating agents decreased the diffusion of DiIC14 within 2 min, but left the mobile fraction unchanged. Signal processing was required for the decrease in D as D-Phenylalanyl-L-prolyl-L-arginyl-chloromethane-treated thrombin, which binds normally to the thrombin receptor but fails to activate the cell, had no effect. The decrease in D was accompanied by an increase in cytosolic Ca2+ content, [Ca2+]i, and studies using different concentrations of thrombin, the Ca2+ chelator 1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid acetoxymethylester and the Ca2+ ionophore ionomycin revealed that lipid mobilty in the plasma membrane is regulated by Ca2+. In contrast, treatments thought to interfere with the mobility of membrane proteins had little effect. We conclude that the rigidification of the plasma membrane during cell activation is caused by an increase in [Ca2+]i and is therefore a late event and might only contribute to signal transduction at steps downstream of the mobilization/influx of Ca2+.

Characterization of alpha 1-adrenoceptors which mediate chronotropy in neonatal rat cardiac myocytes

1. In the present study, we investigated the effect of culture on alpha 1-adrenoceptors that mediate chronotropy and on alpha 1-adrenergic signal transduction in neonatal rat cardiac myocytes. 2. The spontaneous beating rate of neonatal rat myocytes after 3 or 7 days in culture was 37.4 +/- 4.2 or 102.0 +/- 4.3 beats min-1, respectively. The alpha 1-adrenoceptor-mediated chronotropic effect of norepinephrine was positive at day 3 of culture. In contrast to day 3 of culture, the neonatal myocytes exhibited a negative chronotropic response to norepinephrine on day 7 of culture. Both of these effects of norepinephrine were completely abolished by prazosin. 3. The affinity (Kd) and/or density (Bmax) of alpha 1-adrenoceptors labeled with [3H]prazosin in membranes from cultured myocytes were not significantly different between day 3 and day 7 of culture. 4. The expression of Gs, Gi, Gq and Go alpha-subunits in membranes from cultured myocytes was found to be significantly increased with the passage of culture time by immunoblot analysis. In contrast, no significant differences in G beta-subunit expression were observed between day 3 and day 7 of culture. 5. Norepinephrine-stimulated inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate production by radio-binding protein in neonatal myocytes after 7 days of culture was significantly higher than that of the day 3 counterpart. 6. No significant changes in phospholipid and cholesterol contents in membranes from neonatal myocytes were observed with longer culture times.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Membrane aging during cell growth ascertained by Laurdan generalized polarization

The sensitivity of the fluorescent probe Laurdan to the phase state of lipids has been utilized to detect modifications in the composition and physical state of cell membranes during cell growth. In phospholipid vesicles, the Laurdan emission spectrum shows a 50-nm red shift by passing from the gel to the liquid-crystalline phase. The Generalized Polarization (GP) value has been used for the data treatment instead of the ratiometric method common in investigations utilizing other fluorescent probes that display spectral sensitivity to medium properties. The GP value can be measured easily and quickly and possesses all the properties of "classical" polarization, including the additivity rule. Once Laurdan limiting GP values have been established for the gel and the liquid-crystalline phase of lipids, the quantitative determination of coexisting phases in natural samples is possible. In the present work the observation of a relevant decrease in the fractional intensity of the liquid-crystalline phase in K562 cell membranes during 5 days of asynchronous growth is reported. A decrease in the "fluidity" of cell membranes in K562 cells kept in culture for several months is also reported. The procedure developed for labeling cell membranes with Laurdan is reported and the influence of cell metabolism on fluorescence parameters is discussed. Also discussed is the influence of cholesterol on Laurdan GP.

Phosphatidylcholine asymmetry in electroplax from the electric eel: use of a phosphatidylcholine exchange protein

Phosphatidylcholine asymmetry in the inner and outer leaflets of the plasma membrane bilayer of the innervated and noninnervated surfaces of the electroplax cell was determined, using a phosphatidylcholine exchange protein. The exchange protein from bovine liver catalyzed the exchange of phosphatidylcholine from small unilamellar vesicles to the outer monolayer of the plasma membrane bilayer. The exchange protein did not penetrate to the inner monolayer of the plasma membrane, did not modify the permeability of the electroplax, and did not alter the phospholipid or cholesterol content of the electroplax. In the innervated plasma membrane, 42% of the phosphatidylcholine is in the outer leaflet, 33% is in the inner leaflet, and 25% is inaccessible to the exchange protein. Corresponding values for the noninnervated plasma membrane are 56, 26, and 18%, respectively. These results are similar to phosphatidylcholine asymmetry in other biological membranes. This unique cell can be used as a model to test the effects on phospholipid asymmetry of compounds that act on the membrane.

Effect of aging on the activity of the phosphate carrier and on the lipid composition in rat liver mitochondria

The effect of aging on the activity of the phosphate carrier and on the lipid composition in rat liver mitochondria has been investigated. It was found that the rate of phosphate transport in mitochondria from aged rats (28 months old) is significantly reduced (around 40%) compared to that obtained in mitochondria from young control rats (5 months old). Kinetic analysis of the phosphate transport indicates that only the Vmax of this process is affected, while there is no change in the Km values. The lower activity of the phosphate carrier in mitochondria from aged rats is also documented by swelling experiments. The age-related decrement in the activity of the phosphate carrier was found not to be due neither to a change in the endogenous content of phosphate nor to a change in the transmembrane delta pH value. Inhibitor titrations with mersalyl provide no evidence for a lower content of functional phosphate translocase in mitochondria from aged rats. There is no difference either in the respiratory control ratios or in the ADP/O ratios between mitochondria from young and aged animals. The hepatic mitochondrial lipid composition is altered significantly in aged rats: the total cholesterol increases (31%), the phospholipids decrease (12%), and the cholesterol/phospholipid molar ratio increases (44%). Among the phospholipids cardiolipin shows the greatest alteration (30% decrease with age). Alterations were also found in the pattern of fatty acids. The age-related decrement in the activity of the phosphate carrier appears to be dependent on changes in the lipid domain surrounding the carrier protein molecule in the mitochondrial membrane.

Sphingomyelin and derivatives as cellular signals

This comprehensive review was necessitated by recent observations suggesting that sphingomyelin and derivatives may serve second messenger functions. It has attempted to remain true to the theme of cellular signalling. Hence, it has focussed on the lipids involved primarily with respect to their metabolism and properties in mammalian systems. The enzymology involved has been emphasized. An attempt was made to define directions in which signals may be flowing. However, the evidence presented to date is insufficient to conclusively designate the mechanisms of stimulated lipid metabolism. Hence, the proposed pathways must be viewed as preliminary. Further, the biologic functions of these lipids is for the most part uncertain. Thus, it is difficult to presently integrate this sphingomyelin pathway into the greater realm of cell biology. Nevertheless, the present evidence appears to suggest that a sphingomyelin pathway is likely to possess important bioregulatory functions. Hopefully, interest in this novel pathway will grow and allow a more complete understanding of the roles of these sphingolipids in physiology and pathology.

Lipids and fatty acids of tachyzoites and purified pellicles of Toxoplasma gondii

Various lipids were extracted from tachyzoites and from purified pellicles of Toxoplasma gondii. Extracts from both sources were found to have a low cholesterol/phospholipid ratio. The major phospholipid in these fractions was phosphatidylcholine associated with a low amount of sphingomyelin. Oleic acid represented one-third of whole-cell fatty acids and 44% of pellicular fatty acid content. The lipid composition of the pellicle of T. gondii is consistent with the previously reported high fluidity of this membrane.

Changes in the phospholipid and fatty acid composition in normal erythrocytes from sheep of different ages. Aminophospholipid organization in the membrane bilayer

Development and aging processes in mammals are associated with changes in several physiological parameters. The aim of the present study was to investigate the changes in erythrocyte lipid composition during sheep development. In all the age groups studied, cholesterol/phospholipid ratios remained constant, at close to unity, while phospholipid patterns (sphingomyelin: 45-51%, phosphatidylethanolamine: 26-33%, phosphatidylserine: 13-19% and phosphatidylcholine: less than 2%) changed during development, with a statistically significant decrease (P less than 0.01) in phosphatidylserine and an increase in sphingomyelin content. These data suggest an increase in the rigidity of the erythrocyte lipid bilayer in adult sheep when compared with 1-month-old animals due to a decrease in the phosphatidylserine/sphingomyelin ratio. Fatty acid profiles consistently showed 5 main acids: oleic (52-54%), stearic (17-18%), linoleic (9-15%), palmitic (8.5-11%) and arachidonic acid (2-3%), mainly with significant variations (P less than 0.01) in palmitic and linoleic acid contents, respectively reaching the highest and lowest percentages in the youngest sheep. However, the developmental process seems to have no influence on the aminophospholipid topology of erythrocytes. This study suggests that the animals' developmental process has a marked effect on the lipid composition of erythrocyte membranes, which could affect cell functions.

An update of the enzymology and regulation of sphingomyelin metabolism

Sphingomyelin is found in plasma membranes and related organelles (such as endocytic vesicles and lysosomes) of all tissues, as well as in lipoproteins. Abnormalities in sphingomyelin metabolism have been associated with atherosclerosis, cancer and genetically transmitted diseases; however, except for Niemann-Pick disease, little is known about the mechanism for these disorders. Sphingomyelin biosynthesis de novo involves ceramide formation from serine and two mol of fatty acyl-CoA followed by addition of the phosphocholine headgroup. The headgroup appears to come from phosphatidylcholine, but other sources have not been ruled out. Factors that influence the rate of sphingomyelin synthesis include the availability of serine and palmitic acid, plus the relative activities of key enzymes of this pathway. Sphingomyelin turnover involves removal of the headgroup and amide-linked fatty acid by sphingomyelinases and ceramidases, respectively, which have been found in both lysosomes (with acidic pH optima) and plasma membranes (with neutral to alkaline pH optima). The enzymes of sphingomyelin turnover release ceramide and free sphingosine from endogenous substrates, which may have implications for the participation of a sphingomyelin/sphingosine cycle as another 'lipid second messenger' system.

Aging of rat heart myocytes disrupts muscarinic receptor coupling that leads to inhibition of cAMP accumulation and alters the pathway of muscarinic-stimulated phosphoinositide hydrolysis

The biochemical responses to muscarinic stimulation (inhibition of isoproterenol-stimulated cAMP accumulation and stimulation of phosphoinositide turnover) were investigated in intact myocyte cultures prepared from the hearts of newborn rats. The studies employed young (5 days after plating) and aged (14 days old) myocyte cultures. Aging of the myocyte cultures was accompanied by marked alterations in both the inhibition of cAMP accumulation and the stimulation of the phosphoinositide metabolism via the muscarinic receptors. However, the effects on the two muscarinic responses were different. The first response was disrupted at the level of the coupling of the muscarinic receptors with adenylate cyclase through Gi. On the other hand, muscarinic stimulation of phosphoinositide hydrolysis still occurred in the aged myocyte cultures; however, the inositol trisphosphate generated was not converted to inositol 1-phosphate as in young cultures or as in aged cultures stimulated by norepinephrine. This raises the possibility that muscarinic activation of aged myocyte cultures shifts the metabolic state of the cells and alters the pathway of phosphoinositide hydrolysis. Treatment of aging cultures with phosphatidylcholine liposomes under conditions that yielded aged myocyte cultures with a lipid composition resembling that of young ones restored the muscarinic effect on cAMP accumulation, where the impairment in aged cultures was at the coupling stage (which takes place in the plasma membrane). This treatment had no effect on the response of the phosphoinositide metabolism to muscarinic stimulation.

Hemodialysis and red cell cation transport in uremia: role of membrane free fatty acids

Active and facilitated cation transport in erythrocytes of uremic patients may be improved acutely by hemodialysis, although the mechanisms remain unknown. As nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) can affect Na+ pump activity in vitro, changes in plasma and red cell membrane NEFA content following a single hemodialysis procedure were examined and compared with acute changes in erythrocyte cation flux rates in 34 hemodialysis patients. In nonsodium-loaded cells, small changes in Na+ pump flux with dialysis did correlate with changes in intracellular Na+ content (r = 0.59; N = 17; P less than 0.01). On average, neither maximal Na+ pump activity nor Na+/Li+ counter-transport flux improved with dialysis, but Na+/K+/Cl- cotransport rates rose 25% post-dialysis (P less than 0.02). Plasma NEFA levels rose 87% following hemodialysis but erythrocyte membrane NEFA content declined by 23% (P less than 0.001). Importantly, 24 of the 34 subjects studied had a decrease in erythrocyte membrane NEFA content of greater than 10%, and in these patients, the fall in membrane NEFA correlated with an increase in ouabain-sensitive Na+ efflux (r = 0.564; P less than 0.01). The effects of hemodialysis on both erythrocyte NEFA content and Na+ pump flux could be reproduced by incubating pre-dialysis cells in fatty acid-free albumin. We conclude that acute changes in membrane NEFA may modulate active cation transport in uremic erythrocytes.

The action of sphingomyelinase from Bacillus cereus on ATP-depleted bovine erythrocyte membranes and different lipid composition of liposomes

The presence of cholesterol or phosphatidylethanolamine in sphingomyelin liposomes enhanced 2- to 10-fold the breakdown of sphingomyelin by sphingomyelinase from Bacillus cereus. On the other hand, the presence of phosphatidylcholine was either without effect or slightly stimulative at a higher molar ratio of phosphatidylcholine to sphingomyelin (3/1). In the bovine erythrocytes and their ghosts, the increase by 40-50% or the decrease by 10-23% in membranous cholesterol brought about acceleration or deceleration of enzymatic degradation of sphingomyelin by 50 or 40-50%, respectively. The depletion of ATP (less than 0.9 mg ATP/100 ml packed erythrocytes) enhanced K+ leakage from, and hot hemolysis (lysis without cold shock) of, bovine erythrocytes but decelerated the breakdown of sphingomyelin and hot-cold hemolysis (lysis induced by ice-cold shock to sphingomyelinase-treated erythrocytes), either in the presence of 1 mM MgCl2 alone or in the presence of 1 mM MgCl2 and 1 mM CaCl2. Also, ATP depletion enhanced the adsorption of sphingomyelinase onto bovine erythrocyte membranes in the presence of 1 mM CaCl2 up to 81% of total activity, without appreciable K+ leakage and hot or hot-cold hemolysis. These results suggest that the presence of cholesterol or phosphatidylethanolamine in biomembranes makes the membranes more susceptible to the attack of sphingomyelinase from B. cereus and that the segregation of lipids and proteins in the erythrocyte membranes by ATP depletion causes the deceleration of sphingomyelin hydrolysis despite the enhanced enzyme adsorption onto the erythrocyte membranes.

Cultured heart cell reaggregates: a model for studying relationships between aging and lipid composition

Cultured heart cells serve as a common model for studying the electronphysiology and pharmacology of intact cells of the myocardium from which they are derived (Sperelakis, N. (1982) in Cardiovascular Toxicology (Van Stel, E.W., ed.), pp. 57-108, Raven Press, New York). In this study, heart cell reaggregates were used for investigating the relationship between lipid composition and aging of the heart cells. Spherical reaggregates were prepared from newborn, 3- and 18-month-old rats, respectively. They were grown for 6 days in culture and then analyzed for their lipid composition and creatine phosphokinase levels. There was an age-related increase in total phospholipids and cholesterol level per unit of cell protein. Due to a relatively greater increase in the cholesterol, the mole ratio of cholesterol to phospholipids increased with animal age. The phospholipid composition was also affected. Thus, sphingomyelin levels increased, while those of phosphatidylcholine decreased; these alterations became much more pronounced with increasing animal age. All these changes could be affected by adding small unilamellar vesicles composed of egg phosphatidylcholine to the growth medium on the 5th day after seeding. Such treatment resulted in a lesser ratio of cholesterol to phospholipid as well as sphingomyelin to phosphatidylcholine, without reducing the total phospholipid per unit protein; the level of creatine phosphokinase was also reduced. This study demonstrated that cultured heart reaggregates can serve as a model for studying aging of the whole animal. Its main advantage is the ability to employ cells from rats of any desired age. Currently this is not possible for cultured heart monolayers.

Aging of rat heart fibroblasts: relationship between lipid composition, membrane organization and biological properties

The relationship between age-related alterations in the lipid composition of cultured rat-heart fibroblasts and several biochemical and biophysical parameters was investigated. Aged (14-15-day-old) cultures displayed higher mole ratios of sphingomyelin to phosphatidylcholine, as well as elevated cholesterol levels. A concomitant increase was observed in the total protein content of the cells and in the Vmax values of both membranal and cytoplasmic marker enzymes. Fluorescence photobleaching recovery was employed to study the lateral mobility of the lipid probe NBD-phosphatidylethanolamine and of membrane glycoproteins that bind succinylated concanavalin A. The mobile fractions of both probes were higher in aged cultures, while the lateral diffusion coefficients were lower. To further demonstrate the dependence of the above parameters on the cellular lipid composition, we have manipulated the lipid composition of old cultures by treatments with liposomes (small unilamellar vesicles) of specific compositions. Treatments which reversed the lipid composition towards that of young (5-6-day-old) cultures caused a concomitant reversal of the measured biochemical and biophysical parameters to the values observed in young cultures. These findings suggest that alterations in the organization and mobility of cell membrane constituents are involved in mediating changes in cellular functions. In view of our previous findings on cultures of rat-heart myocytes (Yechiel, E., Barenholz, Y. and Henis, Y.I. (1985) J. Biol. Chem. 260, 9132-9136), it appears that the modulation of cellular properties through the membrane lipid composition may be a general phenomenon in many cell types.