Pteridines and Lipid Metabolism

Abstract

Summary The effect of 9 different pteridines on fatty acid incorporation into phospholipids as well as on cholesterol and phospholipid content was compared in vitro using rat liver homogenate, Krebs-Ringer phosphate buffer containing 0.3 % albumin (pH=7.4), fatty acid mixture and glycerol. D-neopterin (5-30 pmol/g) induced an increase of saturated, a decrease of unsaturated fatty acids incorporation into phospholipids and elevated the cholesterol content in samples. The phospholipid amount in samples remained unchanged. Sepiapterin, 7,8-dihydrobiopterin, 5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobiopterin, biopterin, monapterin and 7,8-dihydroneopterin addition to samples induced an inverse relationship: a decrease of saturated, an increase of unsaturated fatty acid, especially arachidonic acid, incorporation into phospholipids and the decrease of cholesterol content in samples. The phospholipid amount in samples remained unchanged or increased. Lipid metabolism was not altered after addition of xanthopterin and isoxanthopterin to samples. It was suggested that neopterin decreased membrane fluidity, prevented cell cycle, induced cell dystrophy and apoptosis, and promoted the cholesterol precipitation while tetrahydrobiopterin, its precursors, biopterin, monapterin and dihydroneopterin increased membrane fluidity, stimulated cell cycle, prevented cholesterol precipitation. The data point to a potential role of increased neopterin concentrations in vivo to support atherosclerosis development and progression whereas the other pteridines may have a protective effect. Moreover, these pteridines can also promote cell transformation.