Changes In Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Research Articles

Summer fades, deer change: Photoperiodic control of cellular seasonal acclimatization of skeletal muscle

We found major seasonal changes of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in muscular phospholipids (PL) in a large non-hibernating mammal, the red deer (Cervus elaphus). Dietary supply of essential linoleic acid (LA) and α-linolenic acid (ALA) had no, or only weak influence, respectively. We further found correlations of PL PUFA concentrations with the activity of key metabolic enzymes, independent of higher winter expression. Activity of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca++-ATPase increased with SR PL concentrations of n-6 PUFA, and of cytochrome c oxidase and citrate synthase, indicators of ATP-production, with concentrations of eicosapentaenoic acid in mitochondrial PL. All detected cyclic molecular changes were controlled by photoperiod and are likely of general relevance for mammals living in seasonal environments, including humans. During winter, these changes at the molecular level presumably compensate for Arrhenius effects in the colder peripheral body parts and thus enable a thrifty life at lower body temperature.

Changes in polyunsaturated fatty acids during treatment of malnourished children may be insufficient to reach required essential fatty acid levels – A randomised controlled trial

Severe acute malnutrition (SAM) is a global concern. Studies on the impact of ready-to-use therapeutic foods (RUTFs) on polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are almost non-existent. The aim was to investigate the change in whole-blood PUFA and nutrition and health markers among Cambodian children with SAM after treatment with RUTFs. The trial was an 8-week randomised clinical trial of the effectiveness of locally produced fish-based RUTF (L-RUTF) vs standard milk-based RUFT (S-RUTF). Whole-blood fatty acids were analysed using dried blood spots. Nutrition and health markers were assessed using anthropometric assessment and blood samples for markers of inflammation. The trial was conducted at the National Pediatric Hospital, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, with one hundred and twenty-one 6-59-month-old children in treatment for SAM. L-RUTF had a higher content of n-3 PUFA and a higher content of arachidonic acid (AA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), while S-RUTF had the highest content of n-6 PUFA. At baseline, the children presented with a Mead acid level in whole-blood of around 0.08% of total fatty acids (FA%) and an omega-3 index of ∼0.91±0.44. After eight weeks of S-RUTF treatment, linoleic acid (LA), AA, n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio, and Mead acid levels were increased. The L-RUTF intervention did not change the whole-blood PUFAs from baseline. At discharge, the children in the L-RUTF group had a lower n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio than the children in the S-RUTF group, driven by a lower alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) (0.20 vs 0.27 FA%, p=0.004) and lower LA (15.77 vs 14.21 FA%, p=0.018) with no significant differences in AA or DHA levels. Weight-for-height z-score at discharge was negatively associated with total PUFA (β-1.4 FA%, 95%CI.-2.7;-0.1), n-6 LCPUFA (β-1.3 FA%, 95%CI.-1.3;-0.3), and AA (β-0.6 FA%, 95%CI.-1.0;-0.2). Age-adjusted height was negatively associated with the Mead acid:AA ratio (β-1.2 FA%, 95%CI.-2.2;-0.2). No significant change was seen in inflammation markers within groups or between groups during treatment, and n-3 and n-6 PUFAs were not associated with markers of inflammation or haemoglobin status at discharge. The trial found that whole-blood markers of PUFA status were low in children at admission and discharge from SAM treatment, indicating that the currently recommended composition of RUTFs are not able to correct their compromised essential fatty acid status. The higher content of DHA and AA in L-RUTF did not give rise to any improvement in PUFA status. No changes in health markers or associations between PUFA and health markers were found. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02907424.

Detection of the freshness of rice by chemiluminescence.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are usually produced in rice under aerobic environmental conditions, resulting in peroxidative changes in polyunsaturated fatty acids, and affecting the deterioration of rice during storage. In addition, as an important enzyme that participates in removing ROS, peroxidase is also present in rice, and takes part in protecting rice from attack by ROS. Moreover, loss of peroxidase activity may give rise to rice deterioration during storage. Therefore, measuring peroxidase activity makes it possible to ascertain the freshness of rice. In addition, peroxidase can also catalyze the luminol-hydrogen peroxide system. Based on this, in this work we established a new chemiluminescence (CL) method that was used to detect the freshness of stored rice. Under optimal experimental conditions, we showed that the freshness of rice can be measured using this CL method. This study is the first to detect the freshness of rice using a CL method, opening up a novel direction for the application of CL.

Metabolomic changes in polyunsaturated fatty acids and eicosanoids as diagnostic biomarkers in Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis (MAP)-inoculated Holstein–Friesian heifers

Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) is the causative organism of Johne’s disease, a chronic granulomatous enteritis of ruminants. We have previously used naturally MAP-infected heifer calves to document metabolomic changes occurring in MAP infections. Herein, we used experimentally MAP-inoculated heifer calves to identify biomarkers for MAP infections. At 2-weeks of age, 20 Holstein–Friesian (HF) calves were experimentally inoculated with MAP. These calves, along with 20 control calves, were sampled biweekly up to 13-months of age and then monthly up to 19-months of age. Sera were assessed using flow infusion electrospray high-resolution mass spectrometry (FIE-HRMS) on a Q Exactive hybrid quadrupole-Orbitrap mass spectrometer for high throughput, sensitive, non-targeted metabolite fingerprinting. Partial least squares-discriminate analysis (PLS-DA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) discriminated between MAP-inoculated and control heifer calves. Out of 34 identified metabolites, six fatty acyls were able to differentiate between experimental groups throughout the study, including 8, 11, 14-eicosatrienoic acid and cis-8, 11, 14, 17-eicosatetraenoic acid which were also detected in our previous study and so further suggested their value as biomarkers for MAP infection. Pathway analysis highlighted the role of the alpha-linoleic acid and linoleic acid metabolism. Within these pathways, two broad types of response, with a rapid increase in some saturated fatty acids and some n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and later n-6 PUFAs, became predominant. This could indicate an initial anti-inflammatory colonisation phase, followed by an inflammatory phase. This study demonstrates the validity of the metabolomic approach in studying MAP infections. Nevertheless, further work is required to define further key events, particularly at a cell-specific level.

Fatty Acid Metabolism and Derived-Mediators Distinctive of PPAR-α Activation in Obese Subjects Post Bariatric Surgery

Bariatric surger (BS) is characterized by lipid metabolic changes as a response to the massive release of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) from adipose depots. The study aimed at evaluating changes in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) metabolism and biosynthesis of the lipid mediators N-acylethanolamines (NAE), as indices of nuclear peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-α activation. The observational study was performed on 35 subjects (27 female, 8 male) with obesity, undergoing bariatric surgery. We assessed plasma FA and NAE profiles by LC-MS/MS, clinical parameters and anthropometric measures before and 1 and 6 months after bariatric surgery. One month after bariatric surgery, as body weight and clinical parameters improved significantly, we found higher plasma levels of N-oleoylethanolamine, arachidonic and a 22:6-n3/20:5-n3 ratio as evidence of PPAR-α activation. These changes corresponded to higher circulating levels of NEFA and a steep reduction of the fat mass. After 6 months 22:6-n3/20:5-n3 remained elevated and fat mass was further reduced. Our data suggest that the massive release of NEFA from adipose tissue at 1-Post, possibly by inducing PPAR-α, may enhance FA metabolism contributing to fat depot reduction and improved metabolic parameters in the early stage. However, PUFA metabolic changes favor n6 PUFA biosynthesis, requiring a nutritional strategy aimed at reducing the n6/n3 PUFA ratio.

Complementary Lipidomic, Proteomic, and Mass Spectrometry Imaging Approach to the Characterization of the Acute Effects of Radiation in the Non-human Primate Mesenteric Lymph Node after Partial-body Irradiation with Minimal Bone Marrow Sparing.

Radiation sequelae is complex and characterized by multiple pathologies, which occur over time and nonuniformly throughout different organs. The study of the mesenteric lymph node (MLN) due to its importance in the gastrointestinal system is of particular interest. Other studies have shown an immediate post-irradiation reduction in cellularity due to the known effects of irradiation on lymphoid cell populations, but the molecular and functional mechanisms that lead to these cellular alterations remain limited. In this work, we show the use of lipidomic, proteomic, and mass spectrometry imaging in the characterization of the effects of acute radiation exposure on the MLN at different time points after ionizing radiation (IR) from 4 d to 21 d after 12 Gy partial body irradiation with 2.5% bone marrow sparing. The combined analyses showed a dysregulation of the lipid and protein composition in the MLN after IR. Protein expression was affected in numerous pathways, including pathways regulating lipids such as LXR/RXR activation and acute phase response. Lipid distribution and abundance was also affected by IR in the MLN, including an accumulation of triacylglycerides, a decrease in polyunsaturated glycerophospholipids, and changes in polyunsaturated fatty acids. Those changes were observed as early as 4 d after IR and were more pronounced for lipids with a higher concentration in the nodules and the medulla of the MLN. These results provide molecular insight into the MLN that can inform on injury mechanism in a non-human primate model of the acute radiation syndrome of the gastrointestinal tract. Those findings may contribute to the identification of therapeutic targets and the development of new medical countermeasures.

Secular Decreasing Trend in Plasma Eicosapentaenoic and Docosahexaenoic Acids among Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome from 2011 to 2019: A Single Center Descriptive Study.

Despite intensive lipid-lowering interventions, patients treated with statins develop atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), and these patients have an increased risk of developing recurrent cardiovascular events during follow-up. Therefore, there is a need to focus on the residual risks in patients in statin therapy to further reduce ASCVD. The aim of this study was to retrospectively investigate the 10-year trend (2011–2019) regarding changes in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in a single center. We included 686 men and 203 women with ACS admitted to Kagawa Prefectural Central Hospital. Plasma PUFAs, including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), arachidonic acid (AA), and dihomo-γ-linolenic acid (DGLA), were measured at admission for suspected ACS. A secular decreasing trend in the levels of EPA and DHA and the EPA/AA ratio, but not of AA and DGLA, was observed. The analyses based on age (>70 or <70 years) and sex showed that the decreasing trend in the levels of EPA and DHA did not depend on age and remained significant only in men. Further studies are needed to obtain robust evidence to justify that the administration of n-3 PUFA contributes to the secondary prevention of ACS.

Enhancing PUFA-rich polar lipids in Tisochrysis lutea using adaptive laboratory evolution (ALE) with oscillating thermal stress.

Adaptive laboratory evolution is a powerful tool for microorganism improvement likely to produce enhanced microalgae better tailored to their industrial uses. In this work, 12 wild-type strains of Tisochrysis lutea were co-cultivated under increasing thermal stress for 6 months. Indeed, temperature was oscillating daily between a high and a low temperature, with increasing amplitude along the experiment. The goal was to enhance the polyunsaturated fatty acid content of the polar lipids. Samples were taken throughout the evolution experiment and cultivated in standardized conditions to analyze the evolution of the lipid profile. Genomic analysis of the final population shows that two strains survived. The lipid content doubled, impacting all lipid classes. The fatty acid analyses show a decrease in SFAs correlated with an increase in monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), while changes in polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFAs) vary between both photobioreactors. Hence, the proportion of C18-MUFAs (18:1 n-9) and most C18-PUFAs (18:2 n-6, 18:3 n-3, and 18:4 n-3) increased, suggesting their potential role in adjusting membrane fluidity to temperature shifts. Of particular interest, DHA in polar lipids tripled in the final population while the growth rate was not affected. KEY POINTS: • Adaptive laboratory evolution on a mix of 12 T. lutea strains led to survival of 2 • Thermal stress impacted cell size, total lipid cell content, and all lipid classes • DHA cell content partitioned to polar lipids tripled throughout the experiment.

Overweight and erythrocyte polyunsaturated fatty acid changes in menopause

Abstract Lipid disorders have been implicated in overweight and menopause. However, evidence on lipidomic analysis of fatty acids in erythrocytes of menopausal women is scarce. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the body mass index within or beyond 5 years of menopause and erythrocyte fatty acid profile. This case-control study was conducted on out of 37 menopausal women total patients, 22 with body mass index ≥ 25 and 12 matched controls (body mass index &lt;25). Experimental procedures were performed on the blood through robotic equipment for isolation of erythrocyte and cell membrane fatty acids were analyzed by using gas-liquid chromatography. Results showed that erythrocyte membranes did not change significantly in lipid composition between case and control group. However, the percentage of women who had a physiological content of saturated fatty acids was lower in case than in control group, and the percentage of women who had a physiological content of monounsaturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids was lower in control than in case group. Woman with BMI&gt;25 and non-physiological content of fatty acids, were richer in percentage of saturated fatty acids and poorer of monounsaturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids than women with BMI&lt;25. The percentage of physiological n-6/n-3 polyunsaturated ratio was lower in women with BMI&gt;25 than in women with BMI&lt;25. Interestingly, the percentage of patients that had physiological values of lipids beyond 5 years of menopause increased in comparison patients within 5 years of menopause. Notably, n-6/n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids physiological ratio beyond 5 years of menopause increased in both case and control patients, indicating normalization over time. In conclusion erythrocytes fatty acids composition may be related to the body mass index and to the time from menopause.

Lipid profile changes in erythrocyte membranes of women with diagnosed GDM.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a glucose intolerance that begins or is first recognized during pregnancy. It is currently a growing health problem worldwide affecting from 1% to 14% of all pregnant women depending on racial and ethnic group as well as the diagnostic and screening criteria. Our preliminary study aimed at investigating the erythrocyte membrane fatty acid profiles of pregnant women, in particular with diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), and with normal glucose tolerant (NGT) pregnant women as a control group. The study group comprised 43 pregnant women, 32 of whom were diagnosed with GDM according to the WHO criteria, and 11 with normal glucose tolerance. The erythrocyte membrane phospholipids were obtained according to the Folch extraction procedure. Fatty acids (FA) were analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) as the corresponding fatty acid methyl esters (FAME). A cluster of 14 fatty acids identified contained >98% of the recognized peaks in the GC analysis. The analysis of fatty acids from erythrocytes revealed important differences between GDM and NGT women in the third trimester, and the results were correlated with biochemical data. Among the 14 measured FA representing the membrane lipidomic profile, the levels of three saturated FA (myristic, palmitic, stearic acids) tended to decrease in GDM patients, with the percentage content of stearic acid significantly changed. The relative content of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) tended to increase, in particular the oleic acid and vaccenic acid contents were significantly increased in erythrocyte membranes of the GDM group in comparison with the NGT group. The GDM group demonstrated higher sapienic acid levels (+29%) but this change was not statistically significant. This study revealed association between an impaired cis-vaccenic acid concentration in erythrocytes membrane and GDM development. No significant changes of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) were observed in GDM and NGT erythrocytes. We postulate, basing on the differences between the GDM and NGT lipidomic profiles, that stearic and cis-vaccenic acids can be considered as dual biomarkers of specific SFA-MUFA conversion pathway, involving the coupling of delta-9 desaturase and elongase enzymes. Our results indicate that the SFA-MUFA families may be involved in the pathophysiology of metabolic diseases such as GDM, but the further studies are needed to confirm our hypothesis. In conclusion, the erythrocyte membranes of GDM women undergo remodeling resulting in abnormal fatty acid profiles, which are reflection of the long-term status of organism and can have great impact on both the mother and her offspring.

Changes in erythrocyte polyunsaturated fatty acids and plasma eicosanoids level in patients with asthma

BackgroundTo investigate the changes of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and their downstream eicosanoids in patients with asthma, the levels of erythrocyte membrane lipids and plasma lipid metabolites were examined.MethodsErythrocyte membrane lipids were extracted and esterificated, and then fatty acid compositions were determined by gas chromatography. The concentrations of six eicosanoids of PGE2, TXA2, LTB4, PGE1, 6-k-PGF1α and PGF2α in plasma were measured by ELISA.ResultsThe results showed that the contents of erythrocyte membrane fatty acids in patients with asthma were mainly composed of C16:0, C18:0, C18:1, C18:2(n-6), and C20:4(n-6). The ratio n-6/n-3 PUFAs in patients and health persons were (4.42 ± 1.33):1 and (3.21 ± 0.79):1 (p < 0.01), showing statistically significant differences. ELISA results showed that the levels of plasma PGE2, TXB2, and PGE1 in patients were higher than health persons; and the levels of eicosanoids of PGF2α and 6-k-PGF1α were significantly lower in patient group than healthy group (p < 0.05), but LTB4 was no obvious difference (p = 0.09). Increased ratio of n-6/n-3 PUFAs is consistent to the increased levels of pro-inflammatory PGE2 and TXB2 and anti-inflammatory PGE1 originated from C20:4(n-6) and C18:2(n-6), indicating that increased ratio of n-6/n-3 PUFAs and eicosanoids from n-6 PUFAs might promote the progress of airway inflammation of asthma.ConclusionChanges of erythrocyte fatty acids, n-6/n-3 PUFAs ratio and the levels of plasma PGE2, TXB2, and PGE1 in patients with asthma were relevant to airway inflammation in some extent. Therefore, it could be proposed that increase of n-3/n-6 PUFAs ratio by diet supplementation of n-3 PUFAs might effectively improve airway inflammation in asthma.

Factors Influencing the Flavour of Bovine Milk and Cheese from Grass Based versus Non-Grass Based Milk Production Systems.

There has been a surge in interest in relation to differentiating dairy products derived from pasture versus confined systems. The impact of different forage types on the sensory properties of milk and cheese is complex due to the wide range of on farm and production factors that are potentially involved. The main effect of pasture diet on the sensory properties of bovine milk and cheese is increased yellow intensity correlated to β-carotene content, which is a possible biomarker for pasture derived dairy products. Pasture grazing also influences fat and fatty acid content which has been implicated with texture perception changes in milk and cheese and increased omega-3 fatty acids. Changes in polyunsaturated fatty acids in milk and cheese due to pasture diets has been suggested may increase susceptibility to lipid oxidation but does not seem to be an issue to due increased antioxidants and the reducing environment of cheese. It appears that pasture derived milk and cheese are easier to discern by trained panellists and consumers than milk derived from conserved or concentrate diets. However, milk pasteurization, inclusion of concentrate in pasture diets, cheese ripening time, have all been linked to reducing pasture dietary effects on sensory perception. Sensory evaluation studies of milk and cheese have, in general, found that untrained assessors who best represent consumers appear less able to discriminate sensory differences than trained assessors and that differences in visual and textural attributes are more likely to be realized than flavour attributes. This suggests that sensory differences due to diet are often subtle. Evidence supports the direct transfer of some volatiles via inhalation or ingestion but more so with indirect transfer post rumen metabolism dietary components. The impact of dietary volatiles on sensory perception of milk and dairy products obviously depends upon their concentration and odour activity, however very little quantitative studies have been carried out to date. Some studies have highlighted potential correlation of pasture with enhanced “barny” or “cowy” sensory attributes and subsequently linked these to accumulation of p-cresol from the metabolism of β-carotene and aromatic amino acids or possibly isoflavones in the rumen. p-Cresol has also been suggested as a potential biomarker for pasture derived dairy products. Other studies have linked terpenes to specific sensory properties in milk and cheese but this only appears to be relevant in milk and cheese derived from unseeded wild pasture where high concentrations accumulate, as their odour threshold is quite high. Toluene also a product of β-carotene metabolism has been identified as a potential biomarker for pasture derived dairy products but it has little impact on sensory perception due to its high odour threshold. Dimethyl sulfone has been linked to pasture diets and could influence sensory perception as its odour threshold is low. Other studies have linked the presence of maize and legumes (clover) in silage with adverse sensory impacts in milk and cheese. Considerably more research is required to define key dietary related impacts on the flavour of milk and cheese.

Relationship between changes in polyunsaturated fatty acids and aging-related arterial stiffness in overweight subjects 50 years or older over a 3-year period

Although aging-related elastic arterial stiffness is an independent indicator of cardiovascular risk, the roles of polyunsaturated fatty acids in this condition remain uncertain. This prospective study examined the relationships of aging, persist overweight and plasma fatty acids with arterial stiffening over 3years. We divided a cohort of 179 healthy, nonhypertensive subjects (aged ≥50years) into 2 groups: a normal-weight group (18.5kg/m2 ≤ body mass index [BMI] < 25kg/m2, n=103) and an overweight group (25kg/m2 ≤ BMI< 30kg/m2, n=76). Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (ba-PWV) and plasma fatty acids were measured at baseline and after 3years. After 3years, the overweight group showed greater increases in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, insulin, homeostasis model assessment-Insulin resistance index and ba-PWV values (P=.009) than the normal-weight group. In addition, greater reductions in eicosapentaenoic acid (C20:3, n-3, EPA; P=.009) and the EPA/arachidonic acid (C20:4, n-6, AA) ratio (P=.001) were found in the overweight group. Multivariate analyses revealed that changes in (Δ) ba-PWV were significantly and positively associated with baseline BMI values and ΔAA/linoleic acid ratios (C18:2, n-6, LA) and negatively associated with ΔEPA/AA ratios. In a subanalysis using baseline BMI values, Δba-PWV correlated strongly and negatively with ΔEPA/AA ratios (r=-0.595, P<.001) and positively with ΔAA/LA ratios (r=0.455, P<.001) in the overweight group. This study suggests that the persistence of overweight over 3years in subjects ≥50years old is associated with faster arterial stiffening than is observed in normal-weight subjects and that this stiffening is independently associated with increases in AA/LA and decreases in EPA/AA ratios.

Enzyme changes during seed storage in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

A change in enzyme activity in seeds due to ageing is a topic of scientific importance. Vigour is essentially a physiological phenomenon influenced by the reserved metabolites, enzyme activities and growth regulators. The exact cause of loss of seed vigour and viability is still unknown as deterioration of seed is a complex process. In the presence of oxygen, ageing of seed can lead to peroxidative changes in polyunsaturated fatty acids. The free radical -induced non-enzymatic peroxidation, which has the potential to damage membrane, is likely to be a primary cause of deterioration of stored seeds. Certain anabolic enzymes help in maintaining viability while some catabolic enzymes decrease viability. The seed catalase and peroxidase activity seem to be decreased during storage. The results revealed that the peroxidase enzyme activity decreased from 0.236 to 0.444 OD 10 min-1 when storage period increased. A decrease in catalase activity from 0.454 to 0.444 ?g H2O2 mg-1 min-1 followed by a small increase from 0.434 to 0.452 ?g H2O2 mg-1 min-1 was observed during storage. But the activity of lipase enzyme increased from 0.236 to 0.231 meq min-1g-1 of sample when the storage period was increased. The study would help to know the deterioration pattern of stored groundnut seeds.

Influence of a healthy Nordic diet on serum fatty acid composition and associations with blood lipoproteins – results from the NORDIET study

BackgroundThe fatty acid (FA) composition of serum lipids is related to the quality of dietary fat intake.ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of a healthy Nordic diet (ND) on the FA composition of serum cholesterol esters (CE-FA) and assess the associations between changes in the serum CE-FA composition and blood lipoproteins during a controlled dietary intervention.DesignThe NORDIET trial was a 6-week randomised, controlled, parallel-group dietary intervention study that included 86 adults (53±8 years) with elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Serum CE-FA composition was measured using gas chromatography. Diet history interviews were conducted, and daily intake was assessed using checklists.ResultsFood and nutrient intake data indicated that there was a reduction in the intake of fat from dairy and meat products and an increase in the consumption of fatty fish with the ND. The levels of saturated fatty acids in cholesterol esters (CE-SFA) 14:0, 15:0, and 18:0, but not 16:0, showed a significant decrease after intake of ND compared to the control diet (p<0.01). Also, a significant increase in serum 22:6n – 3 was observed compared with the control diet (p<0.01). The changes in CE-SFA 14:0, 15:0, and 18:0 correlated positively with changes in LDL-C, HDL-C, LDL-C/HDL-C, ApoA1, and ApoB (p<0.01), respectively, whereas the changes in polyunsaturated fatty acids in cholesterol esters (CE-PUFA) 22:6n – 3 were negatively correlated with changes in the corresponding serum lipids.ConclusionsThe decreased intake of saturated fat and increased intake of n-3 PUFA in a healthy ND is partly reflected by changes in the serum CE-FA composition, which are associated with an improved serum lipoprotein pattern.

The Good, the Bad, and the Toxic: Approaching Hormesis in Daphnia magna Exposed to an Energetic Compound

A hormetic response is characterized by an opposite effect in small and large doses of chemical exposure, often resulting in seemingly beneficial effects at low doses. Here, we examined the potential mechanisms underlying the hormetic response of Daphnia magna to the energetic trinitrotoluene (TNT). Daphnia magna were exposed to TNT for 21 days, and a significant increase in adult length and number of neonates was identified at low concentrations (0.002-0.22 mg/L TNT), while toxic effects were identified at high concentrations (0.97 mg/L TNT and above). Microarray analysis of D. magna exposed to 0.004, 0.12, and 1.85 mg/L TNT identified effects on lipid metabolism as a potential mechanism underlying hormetic effects. Lipidomic analysis of exposed D. magna supported the hypothesis that TNT exposure affected lipid and fatty acid metabolism, showing that hormetic effects could be related to changes in polyunsaturated fatty acids known to be involved in Daphnia growth and reproduction. Our results show that Daphnia exposed to low levels of TNT presented hormetic growth and reproduction enhancement, while higher TNT concentrations had an opposite effect. Our results also show how a systems approach can help elucidate potential mechanisms of action and adverse outcomes.

Association of polymorphisms in FADS gene with age-related changes in serum phospholipid polyunsaturated fatty acids and oxidative stress markers in middle-aged nonobese men

Background:To investigate the association of FADS gene polymorphisms with age-related changes in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in serum phospholipids and oxidative stress markers.Methods:We genotyped 122 nonobese men aged 35–59 years without any known diseases at baseline for rs174537 near FADS1 (FEN1 rs174537G > T), FADS2 (rs174575, rs2727270), and FADS3 (rs1000778), and followed them for 3 years.Results:Among the four single-nucleotide polymorphisms, the minor variants of rs174537 and rs2727270 were significantly associated with lower concentrations of long-chain PUFAs. However, rs174537G > T showed stronger association. At baseline, men with the rs174537T allele had lower arachidonic acid (AA) and AA/linoleic acid (LA), and higher interleukin (IL)-6 levels than rs174537GG counterparts. After 3 years, rs174537GG men had significantly increased AA (P = 0.022), AA/dihomo-γ-linolenic acid (DGLA) (P = 0.007), docosapentaenoic acid (DPA), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and oxidized LDL (ox-LDL), but decreased eicosatrienoic acid. The rs174537T group showed significantly increased γ-linolenic acid and ox-LDL, and decreased eicosadienoic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)/α-linolenic acid (ALA), and IL-6. After 3 years, the rs174537T group had lower AA (P < 0.001), AA/DGLA (P = 0.019), EPA, DPA, EPA/ALA, and urinary 8-epi-prostaglandin F2α (8-epi-PGF2α) (P = 0.011) than rs174537GG. Changes in AA (P = 0.001), AA/DGLA (P = 0.017), EPA, DPA, EPA/ALA, and urinary 8-epi-PGF2α (P < 0.001) were significantly different between the groups after adjusting for baseline values. Overall, changes in AA positively correlated with changes in urinary 8-epi-PGF2α (r = 0.249, P = 0.007), plasma ox-LDL (r = 0.199, P = 0.045), and serum IL-6 (r = 0.289, P = 0.004).Conclusion:Our data show that FADS polymorphisms can affect age-associated changes in serum phospholipid long-chain PUFAs, Δ5-desaturase activity, and oxidative stress in middle-aged nonobese men. In particular, the rs174537T allele did not show the age-associated increases in AA and Δ5-desaturase activity seen with the rs174537GG genotype.

Dietary soy protein benefit in experimental kidney disease is preserved after isoflavone depletion of diet

Soy diet ameliorates renal injury in the Han:SPRD-cy rat. The relative roles of protein, isoflavones and changes in polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) status are not determined. We fed male Han:SPRD-cy heterozygotes casein (C), high isoflavone soy protein (HIS), alcohol-extracted low isoflavone soy protein (LIS) or mixed soy protein diet (MIS). LIS and MIS were associated with a small decrease in animal weight compared with HIS or C. Soy diets preserved normal renal function and reduced relative renal weight (10.9-14.6 g/kg, cf. 23.6, P < 0.001), scores for cystic change (0.168-0.239, cf. 0.386, P < 0.05), fibrosis (0.013-0.015, cf. 0.032, P < 0.05), tissue oxidized LDL content (0.012-0.021, cf. 0.048, P < 0.05), inflammation (8.5-12.9, cf. 31.2, P < 0.05) and epithelial cell proliferation (6.5-13.8, cf. 26.3, P < 0.05). In post hoc testing, LIS produced a greater reduction in relative renal weight, cystic change and epithelial proliferation, whereas HIS produced a significantly greater reduction in oxidized-LDL. Soy diets were associated with increased hepatic content of 18C PUFA (P < 0.001). LIS and HIS diets were associated with a small increase in body fat content (P < 0.001). Alcohol-extracted soy protein retains its major protective effects in this model with subtle differences attributable to isoflavones.

α‐Synuclein and Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Promote Clathrin‐Mediated Endocytosis and Synaptic Vesicle Recycling

Alpha-synuclein (alphaS) is an abundant neuronal cytoplasmic protein implicated in Parkinson's disease (PD), but its physiological function remains unknown. Consistent with its having structural motifs shared with class A1 apolipoproteins, alphaS can reversibly associate with membranes and help regulate membrane fatty acid composition. We previously observed that variations in alphaS expression level in dopaminergic cultured cells or brains are associated with changes in polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) levels and altered membrane fluidity. We now report that alphaS acts with PUFAs to enhance the internalization of the membrane-binding dye, FM 1-43. Specifically, alphaS expression coupled with exposure to physiological levels of certain PUFAs enhanced clathrin-mediated endocytosis in neuronal and non-neuronal cultured cells. Moreover, alphaS expression and PUFA-enhanced basal and -evoked synaptic vesicle (SV) endocytosis in primary hippocampal cultures of wild type (wt) and genetically depleted alphaS mouse brains. We suggest that alphaS and PUFAs normally function in endocytic mechanisms and are specifically involved in SV recycling upon neuronal stimulation.

Changes in the initial phase of lipid peroxidation induced by elicitor from Phytophthora infestans in Solanum species

The initial phase of the lipid peroxidation process in leaves of Solanum nigrum var. gigantea, Solanum tuberosum cv Bzura and clone H-8105, which represent non-host resistance, field resistance and susceptibility, respectively, against Phytophthora infestans, was investigated. Based on quantitative and qualitative high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analyses of free and esterified fatty acid hydroperoxides (FAHs), we characterized the lipid peroxidation process induced by the pathogen-derived elicitor, culture filtrate (CF), in leaves of the studied genotypes. In all plants, FAHs generated due to 13-lipoxygenase (LOX) action dominated over those from the non-enzymatic pathway. The FAHs derived from 9-LOX activity were found only in CF-treated leaves of the non-host resistant S. nigrum. However, experiments in vitro and in planta with exogenous linoleic acid (LA) as a substrate for LOX revealed high constitutive activity of 9-LOX in all genotypes, which increased in response to CF treatment. The time course changes in polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) pools in the total lipid fractions as well as the degree of their oxidation suggested that CF-induced PUFA peroxidation was enhanced mostly in S. nigrum, less so in Bzura and least in the susceptible clone H-8105. The obtained results are discussed in light of the overall biochemical cell status of plants in the studied interactions.