scholarly journals Ceramide metabolite, not intact ceramide molecule, may be responsible for cellular toxicity

2004 ◽  
Vol 380 (3) ◽  
pp. 715-722 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kou-Yi TSERNG ◽  
Ronda L. GRIFFIN

Ceramides, which are produced from the hydrolysis of sphingomyelin or synthesized from serine and palmitate in a de novo pathway, are regarded as important cellular signals for inducing apoptosis. However, controversy over this proposed role of ceramides exists. Using stable isotope labelling coupled with GC (gas chromatography)-MS and mass isotopomer distribution analysis, we have studied the metabolism of exogenous long-chain ceramides in HL60 cells. Our results do not support the concept of enhanced ceramide transport into cells induced by solvent mixtures of ethanol and hydrocarbons. In addition, cell toxicity does not correlate with the amount of intact ceramide in the cells. Our results are more consistent with a disturbance of sphingomyelin metabolism induced by the solvent mixture. The characteristics of this disturbed sphingolipid disposition are the inhibition of dihydroceramide desaturation and an enhanced degradation of sphingomyelin. As a consequence, dihydroceramides accumulate and the cellular sphingomyelin content decreases. Inhibition of these pathways is most likely to be induced by the increased production of novel ceramide metabolites instead of by intact ceramides. Octadecane-1,2-diol is identified as a possible mediator. Treatments that divert ceramide degradation to the novel pathway are potential strategies in cancer therapy for inducing cell toxicity.

2004 ◽  
Vol 286 (4) ◽  
pp. E577-E588 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Strawford ◽  
F. Antelo ◽  
M. Christiansen ◽  
M. K. Hellerstein

The turnover of adipose tissue components (lipids and cells) and the pathways of adipose lipid deposition have been difficult to measure in humans. We apply here a 2H2O long-term labeling technique for concurrent measurement of adipose-triglyceride (TG) turnover, cell (DNA) proliferation, and de novo lipogenesis (DNL). Healthy subjects drank 2H2O (70 ml/day) for 5-9 wk. Subcutaneous adipose tissue aspirates were taken (gluteal, thigh, and flank depots). Deuterium incorporation into TG glycerol (representing all-source TG synthesis), TG palmitate (representing DNL, by mass isotopomer distribution analysis), and DNA (representing cell proliferation) was measured by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Subjects tolerated the protocol well, and body 2H2O enrichments were stable. Mean TG-glycerol fractional synthesis was 0.12 (i.e., 12%) with a range of 0.03-0.32 after 5 wk and 0.20 (range 0.08-0.49) after 9 wk (TG half-life 200-270 days). Label decay measurements 5-8 mo after discontinuing 2H2O gave similar turnover estimates. Net lipolysis (TG turnover) was 50-60 g/day. DNL contribution to adipose-TG was 0.04 after 9 wk, representing ∼20% of newly deposited TG. Cell proliferation was 0.10-0.17 after 9 wk (half-life 240-425 days). In summary, long-term 2H2O administration to human subjects allows measurement of the dynamics of adipose tissue components. Turnover of all elements is slow, and DNL contributes ∼20% of new TG.


2000 ◽  
Vol 84 (2) ◽  
pp. 233-245 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ole Lammert ◽  
Niels Grunnet ◽  
Peter Faber ◽  
Kirsten Schroll Bjørnsbo ◽  
John Dich ◽  
...  

Ten pairs of normal men were overfed by 5 MJ/d for 21 d with either a carbohydrate-rich or a fat-rich diet (C- and F-group). The two subjects in each pair were requested to follow each other throughout the day to ensure similar physical activity and were otherwise allowed to maintain normal daily life. The increase in body weight, fat free mass and fat mass showed great variation, the mean increases being 1·5 kg, 0·6 kg and 0·9 kg respectively. No significant differences between the C- and F-group were observed. Heat production during sleep did not change during overfeeding. The RQ during sleep was 0·86 and 0·78 in the C- and F-group respectively. The accumulated faecal loss of energy, DM, carbohydrate and protein was significantly higher in the C- compared with the F-group (30, 44, 69 and 51 % higher respectively), whereas the fat loss was the same in the two groups. N balance was not different between the C- and F-group and was positive. Fractional contribution from hepatic de novo lipogenesis, as measured by mass isotopomer distribution analysis after administration of [1-13C]acetate, was 0·20 and 0·03 in the C-group and the F-group respectively. Absolute hepatic de novo lipogenesis in the C-group was on average 211 g per 21 d. Whole-body de novo lipogenesis, as obtained by the difference between fat mass increase and dietary fat available for storage, was positive in six of the ten subjects in the C-group (mean 332 (SEM 191) g per 21 d). The change in plasma leptin concentration was positively correlated with the change in fat mass. Thus, fat storage during overfeeding of isoenergetic amounts of diets rich in carbohydrate or in fat was not significantly different, and carbohydrates seemed to be converted to fat by both hepatic and extrahepatic lipogenesis.


1997 ◽  
Vol 272 (2) ◽  
pp. G367-G373 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Empen ◽  
K. Lange ◽  
E. F. Stange ◽  
J. Scheibner

The purpose of this study was to quantitate the contribution of newly synthesized cholesterol to bile and plasma in humans. Eight healthy volunteers were intravenously infused with 0.125 mmol of [1-(13)C]acetate per kilogram per hour for 15 h. During continuous enteral nutrition, plasma aliquots and samples of duodenal bile were collected hourly. The trimethysilylether of unesterified cholesterol was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for quantitation of the mass fragments M(+0) [mass-to-charge ratio (m/z) 368], M(+1) (m/z 369), M(+2) (m/z 370), M(+3) (m/z 371), and M(+4) (m/z 372). The fractional syntheses of plasma and biliary cholesterol were determined using mass isotopomer distribution analysis. After 6 h of infusion, the 13C enrichment of the acetate pool remained constant at 12%. The fractional synthesis increased continuously during [13C]acetate infusion and reached 4.2% and 5.3% in cholesterol of plasma and bile, respectively. Both were highly correlated, but the fractional synthesis of biliary cholesterol exceeded that of plasma (P < 0.05). It may be concluded that the contribution of de novo cholesterol synthesis to bile exceeds that to plasma but is minor in humans.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masaru Bamba ◽  
Seishiro Aoki ◽  
Tadashi Kajita ◽  
Hiroaki Setoguchi ◽  
Yasuyuki Watano ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTIn diverse mutualistic relationships, genetic variations in impact on the growth of interacting partners—variations in partner quality—are common, despite the theoretical prediction that selection favoring high-quality partners should eliminate such variations. Here, we investigated how variations in partner quality could be maintained in the nitrogen-fixing mutualism between Lotus japonicus and Mesorhizobium bacteria. We reconstructed de novo assembled full-genome sequences from nine rhizobial symbionts, finding massive variations in the core genome and the contrastingly similar symbiotic islands, indicating recent horizontal gene transfer (HGT) of the symbiosis islands into diverse Mesorhizobium lineages. A cross-inoculation experiment using nine sequenced rhizobial symbionts and 15 L. japonicus accessions revealed extensive quality variations represented by plant growth phenotypes, including genotype-by-genotype interactions. Quality variations were not associated with the presence/absence variations of known symbiosis-related genes in the symbiosis island, but rather, showed significant correlations with the core genome variations, supported by SNP- and kinship matrix-based association analyses. These findings highlight the novel role of HGT of symbiosis islands, which indirectly supply mutations of core genomes into L. japonicus-associated bacteria, thereby contributing to the maintenance of variations in partner quality.


Blood ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 120 (21) ◽  
pp. 1445-1445
Author(s):  
Sophia Zachaki ◽  
Chryssa Stavropoulou ◽  
Aggeliki Daraki ◽  
Marina Kalomoiraki ◽  
Panagoula Kollia ◽  
...  

Abstract Abstract 1445 Models for the pathogenesis of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) imply the role of individual genetic variations in genes involved in detoxification mechanisms. GSTP1 enzyme plays a key role in detoxification of a variety of electrophilic compounds, such as benzo [a]-pyrene and other polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), chemotherapy drugs and products of oxidative stress. GSTP1 acts through a common mechanism of conjugating reactive oxygen species (ROS) with glutathione, enabling their detoxification and elimination and thus defending tissues against DNA damage. The corresponding gene is subject to a single-nucleotide polymorphism (A313G) leading to abolished enzyme activity. Thus, individuals homozygous for the variant G allele (G/G) have a lower conjugating activity than individuals homozygous for the wild type A allele (A/A), while heterozygotes (A/G) display intermediate activity. The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether the GSTP1 polymorphism influences susceptibility to MDS and/or promote specific chromosomal aberrations. We conducted a case-control study in 310 de novo MDS patients and 370 unrelated healthy controls using both a conventional PCR-RFLP assay and a novel Real-Time PCR genotyping method using hybridization probe technology. The GSTP1 gene status was also evaluated in relation to patients' characteristics and chromosomal abnormalities. Comparison of the genotype distribution between controls and MDS cases revealed a significantly higher frequency of the variant genotypes (heterozygotes A/A and homozygotes G/G) among MDS patients, as compared to controls (p<0.0001, χ2=31.167, df=2). The most marked statistical difference between MDS patients and controls was observed between the wild-type (A/A) and the homozygous variant genotype (G/G), since subjects carrying the G/G variant genotype showed a 4.1-fold increased risk of MDS prevalence than subjects carrying the wild-type A/A genotype (p=0.000, χ2=30.5, d.f.=1, OR=4.098, 95%CI=[2.433–6.897]). Allele frequencies distribution analysis between patients and controls, showed that MDS patients exhibited a 1.9-fold increased risk of carrying at least one variant G allele, as compared to the controls (p<0.0001, d.f.=1, OR =1.9, 95%CI=[1.48–2.34]). There was no association between the GSTP1 polymorphism and gender or any specific cytogenetic subgroup, while stratification of patients according to age showed a differential GSTP1 genotype distribution (p=0.007). Our results, derived from the larger series of primary MDS cases tested for the GSTP1 genetic background, reveal an increased incidence of the GSTP1 variant genotypes among MDS patients, providing evidence for a potential pathogenetic role of the GSTP1 polymorphism on de novo MDS risk. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


2018 ◽  
Vol 61 (2) ◽  
pp. M13-M25 ◽  
Author(s):  
G Schuler ◽  
Y Dezhkam ◽  
L Tenbusch ◽  
MC Klymiuk ◽  
B Zimmer ◽  
...  

Boars exhibit high concentrations of sulfonated estrogens (SE) mainly originating from the testicular-epididymal compartment. Intriguingly, in porcine Leydig cells, sulfonation of estrogens is colocalized with aromatase and steroid sulfatase (STS), indicating that de novo synthesis of unconjugated estrogens (UE), their sulfonation and hydrolysis of SE occur within the same cell type. So far in boars no plausible concept concerning the role of SE has been put forward. To obtain new information on SE formation and hydrolysis, the porcine testicular-epididymal compartment was screened for the expression of the estrogen-specific sulfotransferase SULT1E1 and STS applying real-time RT-qPCR, Western blot and immunohistochemistry. The epididymal head was identified as the major site of SULT1E1 expression, whereas in the testis, it was virtually undetectable. However, SE tissue concentrations are clearly consistent with the testis as the predominant site of estrogen sulfonation. Results from measurements of estrogen sulfotransferase activity indicate that in the epididymis, SULT1E1 is the relevant enzyme, whereas in the testis, estrogens are sulfonated by a different sulfotransferase with a considerably lower affinity. STS expression and activity was high in the testis (Leydig cells, rete testis epithelium) but also present throughout the epididymis. In the epididymis, SULT1E1 and STS were colocalized in the ductal epithelium, and there was evidence for their apocrine secretion into the ductal lumen. The results suggest that in porcine Leydig cells, SE may be produced as a reservoir to support the levels of bioactive UE via the sulfatase pathway during periods of low activity of the pulsatile testicular steroidogenesis.


2004 ◽  
Vol 56 (4) ◽  
pp. 602-607 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lorraine N Renfurm ◽  
Robert H J Bandsma ◽  
Henkjan J Verkade ◽  
Christiaan V Hulzebos ◽  
Theo van Dijk ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 96 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Masaru Bamba ◽  
Seishiro Aoki ◽  
Tadashi Kajita ◽  
Hiroaki Setoguchi ◽  
Yasuyuki Watano ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Variation in partner quality is commonly observed in diverse cooperative relationships, despite the theoretical prediction that selection favoring high-quality partners should eliminate such variation. Here, we investigated how genetic variation in partner quality could be maintained in the nitrogen-fixing mutualism between Lotus japonicus and Mesorhizobium bacteria. We reconstructed de novo assembled full-genome sequences from nine rhizobial symbionts, finding massive variation in the core genome and the similar symbiotic islands, indicating recent horizontal gene transfer (HGT) of the symbiosis islands into diverse Mesorhizobium lineages. A cross-inoculation experiment using 9 sequenced rhizobial symbionts and 15 L. japonicus accessions revealed extensive quality variation represented by plant growth phenotypes, including genotype-by-genotype interactions. Variation in quality was not associated with the presence/absence variation in known symbiosis-related genes in the symbiosis island; rather, it showed significant correlation with the core genome variation. Given the recurrent HGT of the symbiosis islands into diverse Mesorhizobium strains, local Mesorhizobium communities could serve as a major source of variation for core genomes, which might prevent variation in partner quality from fixing, even in the presence of selection favoring high-quality partners. These findings highlight the novel role of HGT of symbiosis islands in maintaining partner quality variation in the legume–rhizobia symbiosis.


1993 ◽  
Vol 265 (5) ◽  
pp. E814-E820 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. K. Hellerstein ◽  
R. A. Neese ◽  
J. M. Schwarz

We have previously presented a precursor-product stable isotopic technique for measuring in vivo the fraction of very low-density lipoprotein-fatty acids (VLDL-FA) derived from de novo lipogenesis (fractional DNL). Here, we propose a technique for converting fractional DNL into absolute rates of DNL and describe its explicit underlying assumptions. The technique combines the fractional DNL method with a modification of the method of S. Klein, V. R. Young, G. L. A. Blackburn, B. R. Bistrain, and R. R. Wolfe (J. Clin. Invest. 78: 928-933, 1986), for estimating hepatic reesterification of free fatty acids (FFA). Infusions of [1,2,3,4-13C]palmitate and [1-13C]acetate are performed concurrently with indirect calorimetry in human subjects. Fractional DNL (based on mass isotopomer distribution analysis of VLDL-FA), the rate of appearance of plasma FFA (Ra of FFA), and net fat oxidation in the whole body are measured. Equations from the hepatic reesterification model, modified to include the contribution from DNL, allow calculation of absolute DNL (= fractional DNL x [Ra of FFA - net whole body fat oxidation], when respiratory quotient < 1.0). Sample results from human subjects with different dietary energy intakes are presented, with calculations of absolute DNL, absolute reesterification, and absolute fat oxidation rates. The assumptions of this technique (in particular, that all fat oxidized is derived at steady state from circulating FFA and that DNL and reesterification of FFA both occur exclusively in liver) are discussed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


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