Synthesis of a new phosphoglycolipid with biological activity towards platelets

Biological activity of acetylated phenolic compounds

In recent years an effort has been made to isolate and identify biologically active compounds that are included in the Mediterranean diet. The existence of naturally occurring acetylated phenolics, as well as studies with synthetic ones, provide evidence that acetyl groups could be correlated with their biological activity. Platelet activating factor (PAF) is implicated in atherosclerosis, whereas its inhibitors seem to play a protective role against cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study was to examine the biological activity of resveratrol and tyrosol and their acetylated derivatives as inhibitors of PAF-induced washed rabbit platelet aggregation. Acetylation of resveratrol and tyrosol was performed, and separation was achieved by HPLC. Acetylated derivatives were identified by negative mass spectrometry. The data showed that tyrosol and its monoacetylated derivatives act as PAF inhibitors, whereas diacetylated derivatives induce platelet aggregation. Resveratrol and its mono- and triacetylated derivatives exert similar inhibitory activity, whereas the diacetylated ones are more potent inhibitors. In conclusion, acetylated phenolics exert the same or even higher antithrombotic activity compared to the biological activity of the initial one.

Isolation and identification of hydroxyl-platelet-activating factor from natural sources

Platelet-activating factor (PAF), a potent inflammatory mediator that has previously been detected in elevated levels in inflamed gingival tissues, in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and in saliva, is implicated in periodontal disease. The biologically active phospholipid detected in gingival crevicular fluid is a hydroxyl-PAF analogue. In a preliminary study this bioactive molecule was detected for the first time in human blood derived from volunteers with chronic periodontitis as well as from periodontally healthy volunteers. Compounds isolated from natural sources as well as synthetic ones have been reported as biologically active lipids with physiological importance based on the fact that they induce platelet aggregation with EC50 values ranging from 100 to 0.01 microM through interaction with G-protein-coupled receptors like the PAF receptor, leading to altered signal transduction. In this study, the existence of hydroxyl-PAF analogue in human blood was further studied as well as its distribution in plasma and in blood components. The existence of hydroxyl-PAF analogue was also investigated in samples from rabbit blood hen's egg yolk. The hydroxyl-PAF analogue was purified by high-performance liquid chromatography, detected by biological assays and identified by electrospray MS analysis. Quantitative determination of PAF and hydroxyl-PAF analogue (expressed as PAF-like activity) showed a statistically significant increase in the ratio of plasma hydroxyl-PAF analogue levels to plasma PAF levels in volunteers with periodontitis. Moreover, hydroxyl-PAF analogue was also detected in rabbit blood and hen's egg yolk samples. These data support that this bioactive lipid may play a role in oral inflammation and suggest PAF as a member of a lipid molecule family with different structures and from different sources which share the same or similar biological activities, apparently with different physiological roles in human and animals.

Bioactive polar lipids from Chroococcidiopsis sp. (Cyanobacteria)

Many studies indicate that various bioactive metabolites subsist in cyanobacteria. Glycolipids of cyanobacteria are reported as molecules that exert specific bioactivities. In this study, total lipids of Chroococcidiopsissp., a coccoid cyanobacterium isolated from a Greek cave, were separated into neutral and polar-lipids and the latter were further fractionated by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Each polar lipid fraction was tested in vitro for its ability to inhibit platelet-activating factor (PAF)- and thrombin-induced washed rabbit platelet aggregation and/or to cause platelet aggregation. The structures of the most active fractions were elucidated by biological assays and identified by electrospray mass spectrometry. One fraction was a potent inhibitor of PAF-induced platelet aggregation. Structural studies of this fraction indicated the existence of phospho-glyco analog of ceramide. Another fraction that was a potent inhibitor of PAF- as well as of thrombin-induced platelet aggregation was structurally elucidated as a phospho-acetylated glyco-analog of diglyceride. The fraction that induced platelet aggregation was identified as a phospho-acetylated-glyco analog of ceramide. These novel bioactive polar lipids in cyanobacteria in regard to the structure and biological activity may contribute to the allergic character of cyanobacteria.

Characterization of bioactive glycolipids from Scytonema julianum (cyanobacteria)

Cyanobacteria serve as a rich source of novel bioactive metabolites. Few studies on glycolipids reported them as having specific biological activities. In this study, total lipids of Scytonema julianum, a filamentous cyanobacterium isolated from a Greek cave, were separated into neutral and phospho- and glycolipids, and the latter were further fractionated by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Each glycolipid fraction was tested in vitro for its ability to inhibit platelet-activating factor (PAF)- and thrombin-induced washed rabbit platelet aggregation and/or to cause platelet aggregation. The structures of the most active fractions were elucidated by biological assays, by chemical determinations and identified by electrospray mass spectrometry. One fraction was a potent inhibitor of PAF-induced platelet aggregation. Structural studies of this fraction indicated the existence of a phosphoglyco-analog of acyl-sphingosine. Two fractions causing platelet aggregation were detected and identified as phosphoglycolipids. The first one was identified as a phosphoglyco-analog of acyl-acetylated sphingosine and the second one as a glyco-analog of phosphatidylglycerol. The presence of the above bioactive compounds demonstrates new types of lipids in cyanobacteria in regard to the structure and biological activity. In addition, the identified bioactive lipids may contribute to the allergic character of cyanobacteria.

Isolation and structural elucidation of biologically active phospholipids from Scytonema julianum (cyanobacteria)

The role of platelet-activating factor (PAF) as a mediator appeared in rather primitive organisms like protozoans and was maintained in more evolved organisms. No reports exist for the presence of PAF or PAF analogues - or even compounds that exhibit PAF-like activity - in cyanobacteria, even though they belong to a a group of organisms at a low evolutionary level where the content of alkylacyl forms of ether lipids is expected to be high. In addition, cyanobacteria serve as a rich source of novel bioactive metabolites. In the present study the total lipids of a strain of Scytonema julianum, a filamentous cyanobacterium isolated from a Greek cave, were separated into neutral lipids and phospholipids, the latter being further fractionated by HPLC. Each phospholipid fraction was tested in vitro for its ability to inhibit PAF-, arachidonic acid- and ADP-induced washed-rabbit-platelet aggregation and/or to cause platelet aggregation. Two types of phospholipids causing platelet aggregation were detected and shown to be an acetylsphingomyelin and an acylacetylglycerol phosphoacetylated glycolipid. The existence of the sphingomyelin analogues is very important, since ceramides, cerebrosides and related lipids are intracellular second messengers. The identification of the phosphoglycoglycerolipid demonstrates a new type of lipid in cyanobacteria, namely one that exhibits a biological activity very similar to that of PAF. Its presence reinforces the concept that PAF is a member of a large family of lipid mediators, apparently having different physiological roles in prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms. In addition, Scytonema julianum contains a phosphatidylcholine (C(16:0)/(18:2)), even though bacteria in general seldom contain choline-containing phosphoacylglycerols.