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Introduction: Changes in fatty acid composition as well as in a level of blood plasma plasmalogens in cases of various pathological conditions are evidences of lipid metabolism disorders and can indicate their reasons and degree. The objective of this study was to analyze fatty acids and plasmalogens of blood plasma in patients with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS). Methods: Fatty acid ethyl esters and diethyl acetals of fatty aldehydes obtained during sample preparation were analyzed by capillary gasliquid chromatography. Results: Marked changes in the plasma fatty acid composition and plasmalogen levels in pa. tients with MODS were detected. Conclusions: Based on the detected significant reduction in the plasmalogen levels of blood plasma, a conclusion was made about possible presence of peroxisome dysfunctions in patients with MODS. Peroxisome dysfunction may be one of the reasons of violation of detoxification processes, fatty acids oxidation disorder, prolongation and intensification of the inflammatory process, neurological disorders, and decreased blood antioxidant capacity. The assumption was made about an important role of fatty acids in disturbance of systemic hemodynamics, assessment of a degree of lipid metabolism disorders and activity of сatabolic response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Preeclampsia (PE) was shown to affect the placental content and the transfer of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) to the fetus. Plasmalogens, a type of phospholipids with a vinyl-ether link at the sn-1 position, play an antioxidant role and are specifically enriched in PUFA at the sn-2 position. In this study, we characterized plasmalogen-derived dimethyl acetal (DMA) fatty acid derivatives, 16:0 DMA, 18:0 DMA, 9c-/11c-18:1 DMA and PUFA in the placenta of normotensive (n = 20) and PE (n = 20) pregnancies, according to the sampling site: peri-insertion or periphery. Phospholipid fatty acids from the placenta and maternal erythrocytes were identified by gas chromatography mass spectrometry and quantified by flame ionization detection. We found elevated total DMA in the PE placenta by 18% when compared to normotensive controls (p = 0.026). Moreover, the 16:0 DMA account for more than 55% of DMA fatty acids measured in the placenta, and its level is significantly higher in PE than controls (p = 0.018). Also, we found elevated placental PUFA, 20:5(n-3), 22:5(n-3) and a low level of 20:4(n-3) in PE compared to controls. Placental DMA was highly correlated with n-6 and n-3 PUFA in both, normotensive and PE pregnancies. In sum, elevated DMA fatty acids in the PE placenta could be an indirect defensive mechanism against oxidative stress and poor placental fatty acid transfer in PE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peroxisomes are complex single-membrane cell organelles found in all cell types except erythrocytes. Peroxisomes have both catabolic and anabolic functions & these functions include the synthesis of plasmalogens, the formation of bile acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, cholesterol & isoprenoids, & the degradation of very long-chain fatty acids (VLCFA's). Peroxisomes multiply by division of existing peroxisomes & this complex process is regulated by both PEX & non- PEX genes. Peroxisomal disorders are broadly categorised into defects of peroxisomal biogenesis with deficiencies of multiple pathways e.g. Zellweger spectrum or defects affecting single enzymes such as D-bifunctional protein deficiency. Peroxisomal disorders present with a wide spectrum of clinical disease ranging from the severe neonatal Zellweger syndrome with dysmorphic features, neurological abnormalities, hepatorenal and gastrointestinal dysfunction with death typically occurring within the first 6 months of life to adult onset X-linked adrenoleucodystrophy which can be confined only to adrenal insufficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The hippocampal CA1 region is most susceptible to cerebral ischemia in both rodents and humans, whereas CA3 is remarkably resistant. Here, we investigated the possible role of membrane lipids in differential susceptibility in these regions. Transient ischemia was induced in rats via bilateral occlusion of common carotid arteries and membrane lipids were analyzed by mass spectrometry. While lipid profile differences between the intact CA1 and CA3 were rather minor, ischemia caused significant pyramidal cell death with concomittant reduction of phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylethanolamine, plasmalogen and sphingomyelin only in CA1. The phospholipid loss was evenly distributed in most molecular species. Ischemia also significantly increased cell death mediator ceramides only in CA1. Our data suggests that differential susceptibility to ischemia between CA1 and CA3 is not linked to their unique phospholipid profile. Also, selective activation of phospholipase A2, which primarily releases polyunsaturated fatty acids, might not be characteristic to cell death in CA1. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Neural tissue is highly enriched in docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) that is primarily found in the sn-2 position of ethanolamine-containing phospholipids and plasmalogens. Current knowledge on the activity of enzymes in brain phospholipid synthesis does not fully explain this composition and stereospecificity. It is likely that a host of enzyme-mediated processes play roles in brain DHA accumulation to develop this unique enrichment and phospholipid profile. This review examines current knowledge on the spectrum of enzymes that may be involved in brain DHA uptake and utilization in the synthesis and remodeling of phospholipids. It also highlights gaps in that knowledge, including missing information on the activity of known brain enzymes towards DHA as a substrate, and missing identities of brain enzymes that catalyze orphan reactions utilizing DHA for phospholipid formation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Peroxisomes are complex single-membrane cell organelles found in all cell types except erythrocytes. Peroxisomes have both catabolic and anabolic functions & these functions include the synthesis of plasmalogens, the formation of bile acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, cholesterol & isoprenoids, & the degradation of very long-chain fatty acids (VLCFA’s). Peroxisomes multiply by division of existing peroxisomes & this complex process is regulated by both PEX & non-PEX genes. Peroxisomal disorders are broadly categorized into defects of peroxisomal biogenesis with deficiencies of multiple pathways e.g. Zellweger spectrum or defects affecting single enzymes such as D-bifunctional protein deficiency. Peroxisomal disorders present with a wide spectrum of clinical disease ranging from the severe neonatal Zellweger syndrome with dysmorphic features, neurological abnormalities, hepatorenal and gastrointestinal dysfunction with death typically occurring within the first 6 months of life to adult onset X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy which can be confined only to adrenal insufficiency. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article presents a study on a method for the simultaneous purification of plasmalogens, glycerophospholipids with vinyl ether bond, and sphingomyelin (SM), a structural cell membrane component, in human erythrocytes. The study used phospholipase A1 from Aspergillus orizae which was monitored for the purity of plasmalogens through the use of high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The results of the study showed that intact plasmalogens can be separated from diacyl analogs.