Increases in levels of epoxyeicosatrienoic and dihydroxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs and DHETs) in liver and heart in vivo by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and in hepatic EET:DHET ratios by cotreatment with TCDD and the soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibitor AUDA

TPPU treatment of burned mice dampens inflammation and generation of bioactive DHET which impairs neutrophil function

Oxylipins modulate the behavior of immune cells in inflammation. Soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) converts anti-inflammatory epoxyeicosatrienoic acid (EET) to dihydroxyeicosatrienoic acid (DHET). An sEH-inhibitor, TPPU, has been demonstrated to ameliorate lipopolysaccharide (LPS)- and sepsis-induced inflammation via EETs. The immunomodulatory role of DHET is not well characterized. We hypothesized that TPPU dampens inflammation and that sEH-derived DHET alters neutrophil functionality in burn induced inflammation. Outbred mice were treated with vehicle, TPPU or 14,15-DHET and immediately subjected to either sham or dorsal scald 28% total body surface area burn injury. After 6 and 24 h, interleukin 6 (IL-6) serum levels and neutrophil activation were analyzed. For in vitro analyses, bone marrow derived neutrophil functionality and mRNA expression were examined. In vivo, 14,15-DHET and IL-6 serum concentrations were decreased after burn injury with TPPU administration. In vitro, 14,15-DHET impaired neutrophil chemotaxis, acidification, CXCR1/CXCR2 expression and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, the latter independent from p38MAPK and PI3K signaling. We conclude that TPPU administration decreases DHET post-burn. Furthermore, DHET downregulates key neutrophil immune functions and mRNA expression. Altogether, these data reveal that TPPU not only increases anti-inflammatory and inflammation resolving EET levels, but also prevents potential impairment of neutrophils by DHET in trauma.

Targeted analysis of eicosanoids derived from cytochrome P450 pathway by high-resolution multiple-reaction monitoring mass spectrometry

Cytochrome P450 (CYP450) pathway is one of the critical enzymatic via eicosanoid biosynthesis. Nevertheless, their metabolites are far less explored. This pathway plays a crucial role in converting arachidonic acid to hydroxyeicosatetraenoic (HETEs), epoxyeicosatrienoic (EETs), dihydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids (DiHETEs), and dihydroxyeicosatrienoic acids (DiHETrEs), which mediate several physiological and pathological functions. However, CYP450-derived eicosanoids are structurally complex, making those analyses a challenge in lipidomics studies. Herein, a high-resolution multiple-reaction monitoring (MRM^HR ) method has been proposed as a powerful tool for the simultaneous analysis of CYP450-eicosanoids on different biological samples. The developed liquid chromatography (LC)-MRM^HR method was partially validated according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) criteria, demonstrating adequate specificity, linearity, precision, and accuracy. Besides, several biological samples were analyzed to guarantee the feasibility of the method. The proposed strategy may improve the understanding of CYP450-derived eicosanoids in biological systems, which could be fundamental to reveal new aspects of those in physiologic and pathologic conditions.

Carcinogenesis: Failure of resolution of inflammation?

Inflammation in the tumor microenvironment is a hallmark of cancer and is recognized as a key characteristic of carcinogens. However, the failure of resolution of inflammation in cancer is only recently being understood. Products of arachidonic acid and related fatty acid metabolism called eicosanoids, including prostaglandins, leukotrienes, lipoxins, and epoxyeicosanoids, critically regulate inflammation, as well as its resolution. The resolution of inflammation is now appreciated to be an active biochemical process regulated by endogenous specialized pro-resolving lipid autacoid mediators which combat infections and stimulate tissue repair/regeneration. Environmental and chemical human carcinogens, including aflatoxins, asbestos, nitrosamines, alcohol, and tobacco, induce tumor-promoting inflammation and can disrupt the resolution of inflammation contributing to a devastating global cancer burden. While mechanisms of carcinogenesis have focused on genotoxic activity to induce mutations, nongenotoxic mechanisms such as inflammation and oxidative stress promote genotoxicity, proliferation, and mutations. Moreover, carcinogens initiate oxidative stress to synergize with inflammation and DNA damage to fuel a vicious feedback loop of cell death, tissue damage, and carcinogenesis. In contrast, stimulation of resolution of inflammation may prevent carcinogenesis by clearance of cellular debris via macrophage phagocytosis and inhibition of an eicosanoid/cytokine storm of pro-inflammatory mediators. Controlling the host inflammatory response and its resolution in carcinogen-induced cancers will be critical to reducing carcinogen-induced morbidity and mortality. Here we review the recent evidence that stimulation of resolution of inflammation, including pro-resolution lipid mediators and soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibitors, may be a new chemopreventive approach to prevent carcinogen-induced cancer that should be evaluated in humans.

Eicosanoid Signaling in Insect Immunology: New Genes and Unresolved Issues

This paper is focused on eicosanoid signaling in insect immunology. We begin with eicosanoid biosynthesis through the actions of phospholipase A₂, responsible for hydrolyzing the C18 polyunsaturated fatty acid, linoleic acid (18:2n-6), from cellular phospholipids, which is subsequently converted into arachidonic acid (AA; 20:4n-6) via elongases and desaturases. The synthesized AA is then oxygenated into one of three groups of eicosanoids, prostaglandins (PGs), epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) and lipoxygenase products. We mark the distinction between mammalian cyclooxygenases and insect peroxynectins, both of which convert AA into PGs. One PG, PGI₂ (also called prostacyclin), is newly discovered in insects, as a negative regulator of immune reactions and a positive signal in juvenile development. Two new elements of insect PG biology are a PG dehydrogenase and a PG reductase, both of which enact necessary PG catabolism. EETs, which are produced from AA via cytochrome P450s, also act in immune signaling, acting as pro-inflammatory signals. Eicosanoids signal a wide range of cellular immune reactions to infections, invasions and wounding, including nodulation, cell spreading, hemocyte migration and releasing prophenoloxidase from oenocytoids, a class of lepidopteran hemocytes. We briefly review the relatively scant knowledge on insect PG receptors and note PGs also act in gut immunity and in humoral immunity. Detailed new information on PG actions in mosquito immunity against the malarial agent, Plasmodium berghei, has recently emerged and we treat this exciting new work. The new findings on eicosanoid actions in insect immunity have emerged from a very broad range of research at the genetic, cellular and organismal levels, all taking place at the international level.

Cytochrome P450-derived linoleic acid metabolites EpOMEs and DiHOMEs: a review of recent studies

Linoleic acid (LA) is the most abundant polyunsaturated fatty acid found in the Western diet. Cytochrome P450-derived LA metabolites 9,10-epoxyoctadecenoic acid (9,10-EpOME), 12,13-epoxyoctadecenoic acid (12,13-EpOME), 9,10-dihydroxy-12Z-octadecenoic acid (9,10-DiHOME) and 12,13-dihydroxy-9Z-octadecenoic acid (12,13-DiHOME) have been studied for their association with various disease states and biological functions. Previous studies of the EpOMEs and DiHOMEs have focused on their roles in cytotoxic processes, primarily in the inhibition of the neutrophil respiratory burst. More recent research has suggested the DiHOMEs may be important lipid mediators in pain perception, altered immune response and brown adipose tissue activation by cold and exercise. The purpose of this review is to summarize the current understanding of the physiological and pathophysiological roles and modes of action of the EpOMEs and DiHOMEs in health and disease.

Biosynthesis and immunity of epoxyeicosatrienoic acids in a lepidopteran insect, Spodoptera exigua

Eicosanoids mediate both cellular and humoral immune responses in insects. Epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) are a group of eicosanoids containing epoxide formed by epoxygenase (EPX) activity of cytochrome P450 (CYP). Although EETs have been considered to mediate immune responses in some insects, their synthetic machinery was little understood in insects. This study monitored EETs in a lepidopteran insect, Spodoptera exigua, immunized with bacteria and found all four EETs (5,6-EET, 8,9-EET, 11,12-EET, and 14,15-EET) from larval fat body at 247-1,736 pg/g levels. Then to predict EPXs, 140 CYPs were collected from S. exigua transcriptomes and compared with human EPXs. Four CYPs (SeEPX1-SeEPX4) sharing homologies with human EPXs were chosen and assessed in subsequent expression and functional analyses. All four EPXs were expressed in all development stages. In larval stage, all four EPXs were expressed in immune-associated tissues such as fat body and hemocytes. Furthermore, their expression levels were highly enhanced by bacterial challenge in different tissues. RNA interference (RNAi) using gene-specific double stranded RNA injection suppressed their expression levels by more than 55%. RNAi treatments interfered with hemocyte-spreading behavior and nodule formation upon bacterial challenge except RNAi treatment against SeEPX2. All four EETs stimulated cellular immune response measured by nodule formation in S. exigua. The suppressed immune responses by the RNAi treatments against three SeEPXs were rescued by the addition of 8,9-EET. However, other three EETs gave their specific rescue effect depending on SeEPX types under RNAi. In humoral immune response, all four RNAi treatments suppressed expression of antimicrobial peptide genes. This study reports the presence of all four EETs in larval fat body of S. exigua and suggests that four SeEPXs are associated with immune responses mediated by EETs.

Lipokines and Thermogenesis

Adaptive thermogenesis is a catabolic process that consumes energy-storing molecules and expends that energy as heat in response to environmental changes. This process occurs primarily in brown and beige adipose tissue. Thermogenesis is regulated by many factors, including lipid derived paracrine and endocrine hormones called lipokines. Recently, technologic advances for identifying new lipid biomarkers of thermogenic activity have shed light on a diverse set of lipokines that act through different pathways to regulate energy expenditure. In this review, we highlight a few examples of lipokines that regulate thermogenesis. The biosynthesis, regulation, and effects of the thermogenic lipokines in several families are reviewed, including oloeylethanolamine, endocannabinoids, prostaglandin E2, and 12,13-diHOME. These thermogenic lipokines present potential therapeutic targets to combat states of excess energy storage, such as obesity and related metabolic disorders.

Transcriptomic analysis of Anabas testudineus and its defensive mechanisms in response to persistent organic pollutants exposure

The freshwater climbing perch (Anabas testudineus) can tolerate water environments contaminated with persistent organic pollutants (POPs). The mechanisms underlying this tolerance are unknown. We used de novo transcriptomic analysis to investigate the defensive mechanisms of A. testudineus against POPs based on its genetic features and biological responses to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) exposure. Our results revealed a specific expansion of cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A subfamily, which may be involved in the elimination of certain POPs. In xenobiotic responses, the aryl-hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) pathway represents a critical signaling mechanism, and we characterized four AhR and two AhR nuclear translocator homologs and one AhR repressor (AhRR) gene in A. testudineus. TCDD-induced AhRR and CYP1A mRNA upregulation suggests that negative-feedback regulation of AhR signaling through AhRR helps avoid excessive xenobiotic responses. Furthermore, liver and gill transcriptomic profiles were markedly altered after TCDD exposure, with some of the altered genes being related to common defensive responses reported in other species. Based on the newly identified TCDD-altered genes, several A. testudineus-specific responses are proposed, such as enhanced fatty acid β-oxidation. The genetic features of CYP3A subfamily and AhR pathway and the TCDD-induced defensive biological processes elucidated here enhance our understanding of A. testudineus defensive responses against POPs.

Ethanol promotes differentiation of embryonic stem cells through retinoic acid receptor-γ

Ethanol (EtOH) is a teratogen, but its teratogenic mechanisms are not fully understood. The alcohol form of vitamin A (retinol/ROL) can be oxidized to all-trans-retinoic acid (RA), which plays a critical role in stem cell differentiation and development. Using an embryonic stem cell (ESC) model to analyze EtOH's effects on differentiation, we show here that EtOH and acetaldehyde, but not acetate, increase differentiation-associated mRNA levels, and that EtOH decreases pluripotency-related mRNAs. Using reporter assays, ChIP assays, and retinoic acid receptor-γ (RARγ) knockout ESC lines generated by CRISPR/Cas9 and homologous recombination, we demonstrate that EtOH signals via RARγ binding to RA response elements (RAREs) in differentiation-associated gene promoters or enhancers. We also report that EtOH-mediated increases in homeobox A1 (Hoxa1) and cytochrome P450 family 26 subfamily A member 1 (Cyp26a1) transcripts, direct RA target genes, require the expression of the RA-synthesizing enzyme, aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 family member A2 (Aldh1a2), suggesting that EtOH-mediated induction of Hoxa1 and Cyp26a1 requires ROL from the serum. As shown with CRISPR/Cas9 knockout lines, the retinol dehydrogenase gene Rdh10 and a functional RARE in the ROL transporter stimulated by retinoic acid 6 (Stra6) gene are required for EtOH induction of Hoxa1 and Cyp26a1 We conclude that EtOH stimulates stem cell differentiation by increasing the influx and metabolism of ROL for downstream RARγ-dependent transcription. In stem cells, EtOH may shift cell fate decisions to alter developmental outcomes by increasing endogenous ROL/RA signaling via increased Stra6 expression and ROL oxidation.

Modulation of mitochondrial dysfunction and endoplasmic reticulum stress are key mechanisms for the wide-ranging actions of epoxy fatty acids and soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibitors

The arachidonic acid cascade is arguably the most widely known biologic regulatory pathway. Decades after the seminal discoveries involving its cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase branches, studies of this cascade remain an active area of research. The third and less widely known branch, the cytochrome P450 pathway leads to highly active oxygenated lipid mediators, epoxy fatty acids (EpFAs) and hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids (HETEs), which are of similar potency to prostanoids and leukotrienes. Unlike the COX and LOX branches, no pharmaceuticals currently are marketed targeting the P450 branch. However, data support therapeutic benefits from modulating these regulatory lipid mediators. This is being approached by stabilizing or mimicking the EpFAs or even by altering the diet. These approaches lead to predominantly beneficial effects on a wide range of apparently unrelated states resulting in an enigma of how this small group of natural chemical mediators can have such diverse effects. EpFAs are degraded by soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) and stabilized by inhibiting this enzyme. In this review, we focus on interconnected aspects of reported mechanisms of action of EpFAs and inhibitors of soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEHI). The sEHI and EpFAs are commonly reported to maintain homeostasis under pathological conditions while remaining neutral under normal physiological conditions. Here we provide a conceptual framework for the unique and broad range of biological activities ascribed to epoxy fatty acids. We argue that their mechanism of action pivots on their ability to prevent mitochondrial dysfunction, to reduce subsequent ROS formation and to block resulting cellular signaling cascades, primarily the endoplasmic reticulum stress. By stabilizing the mitochondrial - ROS - ER stress axis, the range of activity of EpFAs and sEHI display an overlap with the disease conditions including diabetes, fibrosis, chronic pain, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases, for which the above outlined mechanisms play key roles.

3,3',4,4',5-Pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB 126) Decreases Hepatic and Systemic Ratios of Epoxide to Diol Metabolites of Unsaturated Fatty Acids in Male Rats

Disruption of the homeostasis of oxygenated regulatory lipid mediators (oxylipins), potential markers of exposure to aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) agonists, such as 3,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB 126), is associated with a range of diseases, including nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Here we test the hypothesis that PCB 126 exposure alters the levels of oxylipins in rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (5-weeks old) were treated over a 3-month period every 2 weeks with intraperitoneal injections of PCB 126 in corn oil (cumulative doses of 0, 19.8, 97.8, and 390 µg/kg b.w.; 6 injections total). PCB 126 treatment caused a reduction in growth rates at the highest dose investigated, a dose-dependent decrease in thymus weights, and a dose-dependent increase in liver weights. Liver PCB 126 levels increased in a dose-dependent manner, while levels in plasma were below or close to the detection limit. The ratios of several epoxides to diol metabolites formed via the cytochrome P450 (P450) monooxygenase/soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) pathway from polyunsaturated fatty acids displayed a dose-dependent decrease in the liver and plasma, whereas levels of oxylipins formed by other metabolic pathways were generally not altered by PCB 126 treatment. The effects of PCB 126 on epoxide-to-diol ratios were associated with an increased CYP1A activity in liver microsomes and an increased sEH activity in liver cytosol and peroxisomes. These results suggest that oxylipins are potential biomarkers of exposure to PCB 126 and that the P450/sEH pathway is a therapeutic target for PCB 126-mediated hepatotoxicity that warrants further attention.

The role of AHR-inducible cytochrome P450s in metabolism of polyunsaturated fatty acids

The environmental pollutant 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-ρ-dioxin (TCDD) is the prototype of a large number of non-genotoxic carcinogens, dietary phytochemicals and endogenous metabolites that act via binding the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR). The TCDD-liganded AHR massively upregulates CYP1A1, CYP1A2 and CYP1B1 in many mammalian organs. We demonstrated that TCDD treatment markedly increases the levels of several epoxides and diol metabolites of the epoxides of both ω-6 and ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in the liver and lungs of mice, in an aryl hydrocarbon receptor-dependent fashion, and most likely via the activities of the CYP1 family members. ω-6 Epoxides are known to stimulate tumor growth, angiogenesis, and metastasis in mice. Interestingly, ω-3 epoxides have the opposite effect on these parameters. TCDD and other AHR agonists may, therefore, impact angiogenesis, growth and metastasis of tumors in either a positive or negative way, depending on the relative levels of ω -6 epoxides and ω-3 epoxides generated in the host and/or tumor cells. This is of potential relevance to carcinogenesis by AHR agonists in the human, since the human population is exposed to widely varying ω-6: ω-3 PUFA ratios in the diet.

Repurposing Resveratrol and Fluconazole To Modulate Human Cytochrome P450-Mediated Arachidonic Acid Metabolism

Cytochrome P450 (P450) enzymes metabolize arachidonic acid (AA) to several biologically active epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) and hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids (HETEs). Repurposing clinically-approved drugs could provide safe and readily available means to control EETs and HETEs levels in humans. Our aim was to determine how to significantly and selectively modulate P450-AA metabolism in humans by clinically-approved drugs. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to determine the formation of 15 AA metabolites by human recombinant P450 enzymes, as well as human liver and kidney microsomes. CYP2C19 showed the highest EET-forming activity, while CYP1B1 and CYP2C8 showed the highest midchain HETE-forming activities. CYP1A1 and CYP4 showed the highest subterminal- and 20-HETE-forming activity, respectively. Resveratrol and fluconazole produced the most selective and significant modulation of hepatic P450-AA metabolism, comparable to investigational agents. Monte Carlo simulations showed that 90% of human population would experience a decrease by 6-22%, 16-39%, and 16-35% in 16-, 18-, and 20-HETE formation, respectively, after 2.5 g daily of resveratrol, and by 22-31% and 14-23% in 8,9- and 14,15-EET formation after 50 mg of fluconazole. In conclusion, clinically-approved drugs can provide selective and effective means to modulate P450-AA metabolism, comparable to investigational drugs. Resveratrol and fluconazole are good candidates to be repurposed as new P450-based treatments.

Omeprazole increases the efficacy of a soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibitor in a PGE₂ induced pain model

Epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) are potent endogenous analgesic metabolites produced from arachidonic acid by cytochrome P450s (P450s). Metabolism of EETs by soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) reduces their activity, while their stabilization by sEH inhibition decreases both inflammatory and neuropathic pain. Here, we tested the complementary hypothesis that increasing the level of EETs through induction of P450s by omeprazole (OME), can influence pain related signaling by itself, and potentiate the anti-hyperalgesic effect of sEH inhibitor. Rats were treated with OME (100mg/kg/day, p.o., 7 days), sEH inhibitor TPPU (3mg/kg/day, p.o.) and OME (100mg/kg/day, p.o., 7 days)+TPPU (3mg/kg/day, p.o., last 3 days of OME dose) dissolved in vehicle PEG400, and their effect on hyperalgesia (increased sensitivity to pain) induced by PGE2 was monitored. While OME treatment by itself exhibited variable effects on PGE2 induced hyperalgesia, it strongly potentiated the effect of TPPU in the same assay. The significant decrease in pain with OME+TPPU treatment correlated with the increased levels of EETs in plasma and increased activities of P450 1A1 and P450 1A2 in liver microsomes. The results show that reducing catabolism of EETs with a sEH inhibitor yielded a stronger analgesic effect than increasing generation of EETs by OME, and combination of both yielded the strongest pain reducing effect under the condition of this study.

Identification of modulators of the nuclear receptor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) in a mouse liver gene expression compendium

The nuclear receptor family member peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) is activated by therapeutic hypolipidemic drugs and environmentally-relevant chemicals to regulate genes involved in lipid transport and catabolism. Chronic activation of PPARα in rodents increases liver cancer incidence, whereas suppression of PPARα activity leads to hepatocellular steatosis. Analytical approaches were developed to identify biosets (i.e., gene expression differences between two conditions) in a genomic database in which PPARα activity was altered. A gene expression signature of 131 PPARα-dependent genes was built using microarray profiles from the livers of wild-type and PPARα-null mice after exposure to three structurally diverse PPARα activators (WY-14,643, fenofibrate and perfluorohexane sulfonate). A fold-change rank-based test (Running Fisher’s test (p-value ≤ 10^-4)) was used to evaluate the similarity between the PPARα signature and a test set of 48 and 31 biosets positive or negative, respectively for PPARα activation; the test resulted in a balanced accuracy of 98%. The signature was then used to identify factors that activate or suppress PPARα in an annotated mouse liver/primary hepatocyte gene expression compendium of ~1850 biosets. In addition to the expected activation of PPARα by fibrate drugs, di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, and perfluorinated compounds, PPARα was activated by benzofuran, galactosamine, and TCDD and suppressed by hepatotoxins acetaminophen, lipopolysaccharide, silicon dioxide nanoparticles, and trovafloxacin. Additional factors that activate (fasting, caloric restriction) or suppress (infections) PPARα were also identified. This study 1) developed methods useful for future screening of environmental chemicals, 2) identified chemicals that activate or suppress PPARα, and 3) identified factors including diets and infections that modulate PPARα activity and would be hypothesized to affect chemical-induced PPARα activity.