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Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most common liver diseases worldwide and is often associated with aspects of metabolic syndrome. Despite its prevalence and the importance of early diagnosis, there is a lack of robustly validated biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis and monitoring of disease progression in response to a given treatment. In this Review, we provide an overview of the contribution of metabolomics and lipidomics in clinical studies to identify biomarkers associated with NAFLD and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). In addition, we highlight the key metabolic pathways in NAFLD and NASH that have been identified by metabolomics and lipidomics approaches and could potentially be used as biomarkers for non-invasive diagnostic tests. Overall, the studies demonstrated alterations in amino acid metabolism and several aspects of lipid metabolism including circulating fatty acids, triglycerides, phospholipids and bile acids. Although we report several studies that identified potential biomarkers, few have been validated.

The development of high throughput assays for assessing lipid metabolism in metabolic disorders, especially in diabetes research, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), provides a reliable tool for identifying and characterizing potential biomarkers in human plasma for early diagnosis or prognosis of the disease and/or responses to a specific treatment. Predicting the outcome of weight loss or weight management programs is a challenging yet important aspect of such a program&rsquo, s success. The characterization of potential biomarkers of metabolic disorders, such as lysophospholipids and bile acids, in large human clinical cohorts could provide a useful tool for successful predictions. In this study, we validated an LC-MS method combining the targeted and untargeted detection of these lipid species. Its potential for biomarker discovery was demonstrated in a well-characterized overweight/obese cohort subjected to a low-caloric diet intervention, followed by a weight maintenance phase. Relevant markers predicting successful responses to the low-caloric diet intervention for both weight loss and glycemic control improvements were identified. The response to a controlled weight loss intervention could be best predicted using the baseline concentration of three lysophospholipids (PC(22:4/0:0), PE(17:1/0:0), and PC(22:5/0:0)). Insulin resistance on the other hand could be best predicted using clinical parameters and levels of circulating lysophospholipids and bile acids. Our approach provides a robust tool not only for research purposes, but also for clinical practice, as well as designing new clinical interventions or assessing responses to specific treatment. Considering this, it presents a step toward personalized medicine.

Adaptive metabolic response to injury includes the utilization of alternative energy substrates – such as ketone bodies (KB) – to protect the brain against further damage. Here, we examined cerebral ketone metabolism in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI; n = 34 subjects) monitored with cerebral microdialysis to measure total brain interstitial tissue KB levels (acetoacetate and β-hydroxybutyrate). Nutrition – from fasting vs. stable nutrition state – was associated with a significant decrease of brain KB (34.7 [10th–90th percentiles 10.7–189] µmol/L vs. 13.1 [6.5–64.3] µmol/L, p

Resolution of inflammation in the periphery was once thought to be a passive process, but new research now suggests it is an active process mediated by specialized pro-resolving lipid mediators (SPM) derived from omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA). However, this has yet to be illustrated in neuroinflammation. The purpose of this study was to measure resolution of neuroinflammation and to test whether increasing brain docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) affects the resolution of neuroinflammation. C57Bl/6 mice, fat-1 mice and their wildtype littermates, fed either fish oil or safflower oil, received lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the left lateral ventricle. Animals were then euthanized at various time points for immunohistochemistry, gene expression, and lipidomic analyses. Peak microglial activation was observed at 5 days post-surgery and the resolution index was 10 days. Of the approximately 350 genes significantly changed over the 28 days post LPS injection, 130 were uniquely changed at 3 days post injection. No changes were observed in the bioactive mediator pools. However, a few lysophospholipid species were decreased at 24hr post surgery. When brain DHA is increased, microglial cell density did not resolve faster and did not alter gene expression. In conclusion, resolution of neuroinflammation appears to be independent of SPM. Increasing brain DHA had no effect in this model.

The gut microbiome and lipid metabolism are both recognized as essential components in the maintenance of metabolic health. The mechanisms involved are multifactorial and (especially for microbiome) poorly defined. A strategic approach to investigate the complexity of the microbial influence on lipid metabolism would facilitate determination of relevant molecular mechanisms for microbiome-targeted therapeutics. E. coli is associated with obesity and metabolic syndrome and we used this association in conjunction with gnotobiotic models to investigate the impact of E. coli on lipid metabolism. To address the complexities of the integration of the microbiome and lipid metabolism, we developed transcriptomics-driven lipidomics (TDL) to predict the impact of E. coli colonization on lipid metabolism and established mediators of inflammation and insulin resistance including arachidonic acid metabolism, alterations in bile acids and dietary lipid absorption. A microbiome-related therapeutic approach targeting these mechanisms may therefore provide a therapeutic avenue supporting maintenance of metabolic health., Integrative Lipidomics: Microbiome regulation of lipid metabolism Microbes multifactorially impact host lipid metabolism bearing a significant impact in health and disease. A team led by Mojgan Masoodi and Scott Parkinson at Nestlé Institute of Health Sciences (NIHS) developed an integrative data driven approach for predictive lipidomics investigations of host-microbial impacts on lipid metabolism. Results of in-vivo studies with germ-free mice inoculated with E. coli and in-vitro studies demonstrated the multifactorial nature of the impact of E. coli on arachidonic acid metabolism in the ileum and altered host inflammation and lipid absorption. The findings provide insights into understanding the host-microbiome interactions and identifying microbiome-related solutions for maintaining health and tackling disease. The systems approach presented is applicable to investigate broad range of microbiome dependent and independent alterations in host lipid metabolism.

The utilization of alternative energy substrates to glucose could be beneficial in traumatic brain injury (TBI). Recent clinical data obtained in TBI patients reported valine, &beta, hydroxyisobutyrate (ibHB) and 2-ketoisovaleric acid (2-KIV) as three of the main predictors of TBI outcome. In particular, higher levels of ibHB, 2-KIV, and valine in cerebral microdialysis (CMD) were associated with better clinical outcome. In this study, we investigate the correlations between circulating and CMD levels of these metabolites. We hypothesized that the liver can metabolize valine and provide a significant amount of intermediate metabolites, which can be further metabolized in the brain. We aimed to assess the metabolism of valine in human-induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived astrocytes and HepG2 cells using 13C-labeled substrate to investigate potential avenues for increasing the levels of downstream metabolites of valine via valine supplementation. We observed that 94 &plusmn, 12% and 84 &plusmn, 16% of ibHB, and 94 &plusmn, 12% and 87 &plusmn, 15% of 2-KIV, in the medium of HepG2 cells and in iPSC-derived astrocytes, respectively, came directly from valine. Overall, these findings suggest that both ibHB and 2-KIV are produced from valine to a large extent in both cell types, which could be of interest in the design of optimal nutritional interventions aiming at stimulating valine metabolism.

A dysregulated response to systemic inflammation is a common pathophysiological feature of most conditions encountered in the intensive care unit (ICU). Recent evidence indicates that a dysregulated inflammatory response is involved in the pathogenesis of various ICU-related disorders associated with high mortality, including sepsis, acute respiratory distress syndrome, cerebral and myocardial ischemia, and acute kidney injury. Moreover, persistent or non-resolving inflammation may lead to the syndrome of persistent critical illness, characterized by acquired immunosuppression, catabolism and poor long-term functional outcomes. Despite decades of research, management of many disorders in the ICU is mostly supportive, and current therapeutic strategies often do not take into account the heterogeneity of the patient population, underlying chronic conditions, nor the individual state of the immune response. Fatty acid-derived lipid mediators are recognized as key players in the generation and resolution of inflammation, and their signature provides specific information on patients’ inflammatory status and immune response. Lipidomics is increasingly recognized as a powerful tool to assess lipid metabolism and the interaction between metabolic changes and the immune system via profiling lipid mediators in clinical studies. Within the concept of precision medicine, understanding and characterizing the individual immune response may allow for better stratification of critically ill patients as well as identification of diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. In this review, we provide an overview of the role of fatty acid-derived lipid mediators as endogenous regulators of the inflammatory, anti-inflammatory and pro-resolving response and future directions for use of clinical lipidomics to identify lipid mediators as diagnostic and prognostic markers in critical illness.

Infections after surgical interventions are assumed to be caused by contamination. We show by analyzing multicentric data of 6561 patients that surgical infections as well as sepsis had a predominantly enteric microbial signature irrespective of the type of surgery, suggesting failure of intestinal bacterial compartmentalization. In mice, we reveal that hepatic surgery induced dysregulation of intestinal and hepatic type 3 innate lymphoid cells (ILC3s) and intestinal leakage resulting in enteric bacterial translocation via lymphatic vessels. In the absence of hepatic ILC3s, inflammasome activation and the induction of antimicrobial peptide encoding genes, bacteria colonized remote systemic organs and impaired surgical outcomes. Conversely, mammalian-microbial commensalism is required for the education of host immunity to ensure optimal hepatic healing responses. In fact, microbial-derived products were sufficient for the induction of proliferative transcriptional networks in the mouse liver, as illustrated by serum transfer experiments, mass spectrometry and RNA expression analysis, indicating that the balanced exposure of the host to commensals is essential for recovery. This study reveals the intestinal origin of microbes causing complications after surgical interventions and highlights host protective mechanisms of controlled commensalism that prevent infections.One Sentence SummaryIntestinal bacteria cause surgical infections

Background An aim of weight loss is to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in obese subjects. However, the relation with long-term glycemic improvement remains unknown. Objective We evaluated the changes in lipid composition during weight loss and their association with long-term glycemic improvement. Design We investigated the plasma lipidome of 383 obese, nondiabetic patients within a randomized, controlled dietary intervention in 8 European countries at baseline, after an 8-wk low-caloric diet (LCD) (800-1000 kcal/d), and after 6 mo of weight maintenance. Results After weight loss, a lipid signature identified 2 groups of patients who were comparable at baseline but who differed in their capacities to lose weight and improve glycemic control. Six months after the LCD, one group had significant glycemic improvement [homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) mean change: -0.92; 95% CI: -1.17, -0.67)]. The other group showed no improvement in glycemic control (HOMA-IR mean change: -0.26; 95% CI: -0.64, 0.13). These differences were sustained for ≥1 y after the LCD. The same conclusions were obtained with other endpoints (Matsuda index and fasting insulin and glucose concentrations). Significant differences between the 2 groups were shown in leptin gene expression in adipose tissue biopsies. Significant differences were also observed in weight-related endpoints (body mass index, weight, and fat mass). The lipid signature allowed prediction of which subjects would be considered to be insulin resistant after 6 mo of weight maintenance [validation's receiver operating characteristic (ROC) area under the curve (AUC): 71%; 95% CI: 62%, 81%]. This model outperformed a clinical data-only model (validation's ROC AUC: 61%; 95% CI: 50%, 71%; P = 0.01). Conclusions In this study, we report a lipid signature of LCD success (for weight and glycemic outcome) in obese, nondiabetic patients. Lipid changes during an 8-wk LCD allowed us to predict insulin-resistant patients after 6 mo of weight maintenance. The determination of the lipid composition during an LCD enables the identification of nonresponders and may help clinicians manage metabolic outcomes with further intervention, thereby improving the long-term outcome and preventing T2D. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00390637.

Scope Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3) is crucial for optimal neuronal development and function, but the brain has a poor capacity to synthesize this fatty acid. When consumed acutely esterified to phosphatidylcholine, DHA is more efficient at targeting the brain than when consumed esterified to triacylglycerol. However, the brain DHA bioavailability of other forms of DHA-containing phospholipids, after oral ingestion, is unknown. The objective of this study is to compare brain uptake of DHA after acute gavage with different DHA carriers. Methods and results Ten-week-old rats were gavaged with 3 H-labeled DHA esterified to phosphatidylcholine (DHA-PtdCho), phosphatidylethanolamine (DHA-PtdEtn), phosphatidylserine (DHA-PtdSer) or triacylglycerol (DHA-TG). Six hours post-gavage, the animals were euthanized and radioactivity was quantified in the cortex and serum lipid classes. Radioactivity recovered in cortex total phospholipids was similar between the DHA-PtdCho and DHA-PtdSer groups and were 5.8 and 6.7 times higher than in the DHA-TG group, respectively. Serum total lipid radioactivity was higher in the DHA-PtdSer group than in the DHA-PtdCho and DHA-PtdEtn groups, but not compared to the DHA-TG group. Conclusion These results suggest that different mechanisms must be present to explain the serum and brain bioavailability differences between DHA-PtdCho and DHA-PtdSer, but these require further investigation.

Ketones represent an important alternative fuel for the brain under glucose hypo-metabolic conditions induced by neurological diseases or aging, however their metabolic consequences in healthy brains remain unclear. Here we report that ketones can increase the redox NAD+/NADH ratio in the resting brain of healthy young adults. As NAD is an important energetic and signaling metabolic modulator, these results provide mechanistic clues on how nutritional ketosis might contribute to the preservation of brain health.

The microbiome has been demonstrated to play an integral role in the maintenance of many aspects of health that are also associated with aging. In order to identify areas of potential exploration and intervention, we simultaneously characterized age-related alterations in gut microbiome, muscle physiology and serum proteomic and lipidomic profiles in aged rats to define an integrated signature of the aging phenotype. We demonstrate that aging skews the composition of the gut microbiome, in particular by altering the Sutterella to Barneseilla ratio, and alters the metabolic potential of intestinal bacteria. Age-related changes of the gut microbiome were associated with the physiological decline of musculoskeletal function, and with molecular markers of nutrient processing/availability, and inflammatory/immune status in aged versus adult rats. Altogether, our study highlights that aging leads to a complex interplay between the microbiome and host physiology, and provides candidate microbial species to target physical and metabolic decline during aging by modulating gut microbial ecology.

Recent studies suggest that at least two pools of plasma docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) can supply the brain: non-esterified DHA (NE-DHA) and lysophosphatidylcholine (lysoPtdCho)-DHA. In contrast to NE-DHA, brain uptake of lysoPtdCho-DHA appears to be mediated by a specific transporter, but whether both forms of DHA supply undergo the same metabolic fate, particularly with regards to enrichment of specific phospholipid (PL) subclasses, remains to be determined. This study aimed to evaluate brain uptake of NE-DHA and lysoPtdCho-DHA into brain PL classes. Fifteen-week-old rats were infused intravenously with radiolabelled NE-14C-DHA or lysoPtdCho-14C-DHA (n=4/group) over five mins to achieve a steady-state plasma level. PLs were extracted from the brain and separated by thin layer chromatography and radioactivity was quantified by liquid scintillation counting. The net rate of entry of lysoPtdCho-DHA into the brain was between 59% and 86% lower than the net rate of entry of NE-DHA, depending on the PL class. The proportion of total PL radioactivity in the lysoPtdCho-14C-DHA group compared to the NE-14C-DHA group was significantly higher in choline glycerophospholipids (ChoGpl) (48% vs 28%, respectively) but lower in ethanolamine glycerophospholipids (EtnGpl) (32% vs 46%, respectively). In both groups, radioactivity was disproportionally high in phosphatidylinositol and ChoGpl but low in phosphatidylserine and EtnGpl compared to the corresponding DHA pool size. This suggests that DHA undergoes extensive PL remodeling after entry into the brain.

Oleoylethanolamide (OEA) is a bioactive lipid that stimulates nuclear and G protein-coupled receptors and regulates appetite and fat metabolism. It has not previously been shown to have a role in cancer. However, a mass spectrometry-based lipidomics platform revealed the presence of high amounts of OEA in the plasma of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients compared with normal donors. CLL cells produced OEA and the magnitude of plasma OEA levels was related directly to the circulating leukemic cell number. OEA from CLL cells was increased by URB-597, an inhibitor of fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), and decreased by inflammatory mediators that downregulate expression of N-acylphosphatidylethanolamine-specific phospholipase D (NAPE-PLD). These enzymes degrade and synthesize OEA, respectively. Nonphysiologic doses of OEA prevented spontaneous apoptosis of CLL cells in a receptor-independent manner that was mimicked by its free fatty acid (FFA) derivative oleate. However, OEA-containing supernatants from CLL cells induced lipolysis in adipocytes, lipid products from adipocytes protected CLL cells from cytotoxic chemotherapy, and increased levels of FFAs were found in CLL plasma that correlated with OEA. We suggest OEA is a lipolytic factor produced by CLL cells to fuel their growth with a potential role in drug resistance and cancer cachexia.

The polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) arachidonic acid (AA, n-6) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, n-3) are precursors of eicosanoids and other lipid mediators which have critical roles in inflammation. The mediators formed from the different PUFA have different potencies. We hypothesised that metabolic changes associated with colonic mucosal inflammation would modify the bioavailability of the eicosanoid precursors AA and EPA.Colonic mucosa biopsies were obtained from patients with ulcerative colitis and from matched controls. Inflammation was graded endoscopically and histologically. Esterified and non-esterified fatty acids were determined within the biopsies using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, respectively.Biopsy samples were collected from 69 UC patients (54 providing both inflamed and non-inflamed mucosa) and 69 controls. Inflamed mucosa had higher AA (p0.001) and lower EPA (p0.010) contents and a higher AA:EPA ratio (p0.001). Inflamed mucosa also had higher docosapentaenoic acid (DPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and lower linoleic acid (LA) and α-linolenic acid (α-LNA) contents (all p0.001), compared to non-inflamed and controls. There were significant correlations between severity of inflammation and contents of AA, DPA and DHA (positive correlations) and of LA, α-LNA and EPA (negative correlations).Higher AA, AA:EPA ratio, DPA and DHA and lower LA, α-LNA and EPA are seen in inflamed mucosa in UC and correlate with severity of inflammation. This suggests an alteration in fatty acid metabolism in the inflamed gut mucosa, which may offer novel targets for intervention and should be considered if nutritional strategies are used.

Schönfeld and Reiser recently hypothesized that fatty acid β-oxidation is a source of oxidative stress in the brain. To test this hypothesis, we inhibited brain mitochondrial β-oxidation with methyl palmoxirate (MEP) and measured oxidative polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) metabolites in the rat brain. Upon MEP treatment, levels of several nonenzymatic auto-oxidative PUFA metabolites were reduced with few effects on enzymatically derived metabolites. Our finding confirms the hypothesis that reduced fatty acid β-oxidation decreases oxidative stress in the brain and β-oxidation inhibitors may be a novel therapeutic approach for brain disorders associated with oxidative stress.

Brain eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) levels are 250- to 300-fold lower than docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), at least partly, because EPA is rapidly β-oxidized and lost from brain phospholipids. Therefore, we examined if β-oxidation was necessary for maintaining low EPA levels by inhibiting β-oxidation with methyl palmoxirate (MEP). Furthermore, because other metabolic differences between DHA and EPA may also contribute to their vastly different levels, this study aimed to quantify the incorporation and turnover of DHA and EPA into brain phospholipids. Fifteen-week-old rats were subjected to vehicle or MEP prior to a 5 min intravenous infusion of (14)C-palmitate, (14)C-DHA, or (14)C-EPA. MEP reduced the radioactivity of brain aqueous fractions for (14)C-palmitate-, (14)C-EPA-, and (14)C-DHA-infused rats by 74, 54, and 23%, respectively; while it increased the net rate of incorporation of plasma unesterified palmitate into choline glycerophospholipids and phosphatidylinositol and EPA into ethanolamine glycerophospholipids and phosphatidylserine. MEP also increased the synthesis of n-3 docosapentaenoic acid (n-3 DPA) from EPA. Moreover, the recycling of EPA into brain phospholipids was 154-fold lower than DHA. Therefore, the low levels of EPA in the brain are maintained by multiple redundant pathways including β-oxidation, decreased incorporation from plasma unesterified FA pool, elongation/desaturation to n-3 DPA, and lower recycling within brain phospholipids.

The field of lipidomics has evolved vastly since its creation 15 years ago. Advancements in mass spectrometry have allowed for the identification of hundreds of intact lipids and lipid mediators. However, due to the release of fatty acids from the phospholipid membrane in the brain caused by ischemia, identifying the neurolipidome has been challenging. Microwave fixation has been shown to reduce the ischemia-induced release of several lipid mediators. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a method combining high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS), high-energy head-focused microwave fixation and statistical modeling, allowing for the measurement of intact lipids and lipid mediators in order to eliminate the ischemia-induced release of fatty acids and identify the rat neurolipidome. In this study, we demonstrated the ischemia-induced production of bioactive lipid mediators, and the reduction of variability by using microwave fixation in combination with liquid chromatography (LC)-MS/MS. We have also illustrated for the first time that microwave fixation eliminates the alterations in intact lipid species following ischemia. While many phospholipid species were unchanged by ischemia, other intact lipid classes such as diacylglycerol were lower in concentration following microwave fixation compared to ischemia. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Excessive ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure induces erythema, mediated in part by prostaglandin-E(2) (PGE(2)). While keratinocytes are a major PGE(2) source, epidermal melanocytes (EM) also express PGE(2)-production machinery. It is unclear whether EM-produced PGE(2) contributes to UVR-induced skin inflammation, and whether this is correlated with melanogenesis. Epidermal melanocytes were cultured from skin phototype-1 and -4 donors, followed by assessment of PGE(2) production and melanogenesis. Epidermal melanocytes expressed cytoplasmic phospholipase-A(2), cyclooxygenase-1, cytoplasmic prostaglandin-E synthase and microsomal prostaglandin-E synthase-1, -2. Epidermal melanocytes produced PGE(2) under basal conditions, which increased further after arachidonic acid stimulation. Epidermal melanocytes expressed cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) mRNA and a selective COX-2 inhibitor (NS-398) reduced PGE(2) production. Ultraviolet B-induced PGE(2) production was positively correlated with skin phototype-1, despite variability between individual EM donors. By contrast, there was no correlation between PGE(2) production by EM and their melanogenic status. Thus, EM may contribute to UVR-induced erythema, with role of donor skin phototype more important than their melanogenic status.

There is growing interest in the use of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) for immune therapy. Clinical trials that use MSC for treatment of therapy resistant graft versus host disease, Crohn's disease and organ transplantation have initiated. Nevertheless, the immunomodulatory effects of MSC are only partly understood. Clinical trials that are supported by basic research will lead to better understanding of the potential of MSC for immunomodulatory applications and to optimization of such therapies. In this manuscript we review some recent literature on the mechanisms of immunomodulation by MSC in vitro and animal models, present new data on the secretion of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines, chemokines and prostaglandins by MSC under resting and inflammatory conditions and discuss the hopes and expectations of MSC-based immune therapy. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Sunburn is a commonly occurring acute inflammatory process, with dermal vasodilatation and leukocyte infiltration as central features. Ultraviolet (UV) B-induced hydrolysis of membrane phospholipids releases polyunsaturated fatty acids, and their subsequent metabolism by cyclooxygenases (COXs) and lipoxygenases (LOXs) may produce potent eicosanoid mediators modulating different stages of the inflammation. Our objective was to identify candidate eicosanoids formed during the sunburn reaction in relation to its clinical and histological course. We exposed skin of healthy humans (n=32) to UVB and, for 72 h, examined expression of proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory eicosanoids using LC/ESI-MS/MS, and examined immunohistochemical expression of COX-2, 12-LOX, 15-LOX, and leukocyte markers, while quantifying clinical erythema. We show that vasodilatory prostaglandins (PGs) PGE2, PGF2α, and PGE3 accompany the erythema in the first 24–48 h, associated with increased COX-2 expression at 24 h. Novel, potent leukocyte chemoattractants 11-, 12-, and 8-monohydroxy-eicosatetraenoic acid (HETE) are elevated from 4 to 72 h, in association with peak dermal neutrophil influx at 24 h, and increased dermal CD3+ lymphocytes and 12- and 15-LOX expression from 24 to 72 h. Anti-inflammatory metabolite 15-HETE shows later expression, peaking at 72 h. Sunburn is characterized by overlapping sequential profiles of increases in COX products followed by LOX products that may regulate subsequent events and ultimately its resolution.—Rhodes, L. E., Gledhill, K., Masoodi, M., Haylett, A. K., Brownrigg, M., Thody, A. J., Tobin, D. J., Nicolaou, A. The sunburn response in human skin is characterized by sequential eicosanoid profiles that may mediate its early and late phases.

Medium-chain triglycerides have been used as part of a ketogenic diet effective in reducing epileptic episodes. The health benefits of the derived medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) are thought to result from the stimulation of liver ketogenesis providing fuel for the brain. We tested whether MCFAs have direct effects on energy metabolism in induced pluripotent stem cell-derived human astrocytes and neurons. Using single-cell imaging, we observed an acute pronounced reduction of the mitochondrial electrical potential and a concomitant drop of the NAD(P)H signal in astrocytes, but not in neurons. Despite the observed effects on mitochondrial function, MCFAs did not lower intracellular ATP levels or activate the energy sensor AMP-activated protein kinase. ATP concentrations in astrocytes were unaltered, even when blocking the respiratory chain, suggesting compensation through accelerated glycolysis. The MCFA decanoic acid (300 μM) promoted glycolysis and augmented lactate formation by 49.6%. The shorter fatty acid octanoic acid (300 μM) did not affect glycolysis but increased the rates of astrocyte ketogenesis 2.17-fold compared with that of control cells. MCFAs may have brain health benefits through the modulation of astrocyte metabolism leading to activation of shuttle systems that provide fuel to neighboring neurons in the form of lactate and ketone bodies.-Thevenet, J., De Marchi, U., Santo Domingo, J., Christinat, N., Bultot, L., Lefebvre, G., Sakamoto, K., Descombes, P., Masoodi, M., Wiederkehr, A. Medium-chain fatty acids inhibit mitochondrial metabolism in astrocytes promoting astrocyte-neuron lactate and ketone body shuttle systems.

Introduction: Previous studies have shown that cognition is improved by providing AD patients with an alternate energy source: ketones derived from either ketogenic diet or supplementation with med...

Obesity-associated low-grade inflammation of white adipose tissue (WAT) contributes to development of insulin resistance and other disorders. Accumulation of immune cells, especially macrophages, and macrophage polarization from M2 to M1 state, affect intrinsic WAT signaling, namely anti-inflammatory and proinflammatory cytokines, fatty acids (FA), and lipid mediators derived from both n-6 and n-3 long-chain PUFA such as (i) arachidonic acid (AA)-derived eicosanoids and endocannabinoids, and (ii) specialized pro-resolving lipid mediators including resolvins derived from both eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), lipoxins (AA metabolites), protectins and maresins (DHA metabolites). In this respect, potential differences in modulating adipocyte metabolism by various lipid mediators formed by inflammatory M1 macrophages typical of obese state, and non-inflammatory M2 macrophages typical of lean state remain to be established. Studies in mice suggest that (i) transient accumulation of M2 macrophages could be essential for the control of tissue FA levels during activation of lipolysis, (ii) currently unidentified M2 macrophage-borne signaling molecule(s) could inhibit lipolysis and re-esterification of lipolyzed FA back to triacylglycerols (TAG/FA cycle), and (iii) the egress of M2 macrophages from rebuilt WAT and removal of the negative feedback regulation could allow for a full unmasking of metabolic activities of adipocytes. Thus, M2 macrophages could support remodeling of WAT to a tissue containing metabolically flexible adipocytes endowed with a high capacity of both TAG/FA cycling and oxidative phosphorylation. This situation could be exemplified by a combined intervention using mild calorie restriction and dietary supplementation with EPA/DHA, which enhances the formation of "healthy" adipocytes. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Oxygenated metabolism of PUFA: analysis and biological relevance."

This study shows that prostaglandins in human FM55 melanoma cells and epidermal melanocytes are produced by COX-1. Prostaglandin production in FM55 melanoma cells was unrelated to that of melanin suggesting that the two processes can occur independently. Alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone, which had no effect on melanin production in FM55 cells, stimulated PGD(2) production in these cells without affecting PGE(2). While cAMP pathways may be involved in regulating PGD(2) production, our results suggest that alpha-MSH acts independently of cAMP, possibly by regulating the activity of lipocalin-type PGD synthase. This alpha-MSH-mediated effect may be associated with its role as an immune modulator.

OBJECTIVES: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a relapsing inflammatory disorder of unconfirmed aetiology, variable severity and clinical course, characterised by progressive histological inflammation and with elevation of eicosanoids which have a known pathophysiological role in inflammation. Therapeutic interventions targetting eicosanoids (5-aminosalicylates (ASA)) are effective first line and adjunctive treatments in mild-moderate UC for achieving and sustaining clinical remission. However, the variable clinical response to 5-ASA and frequent deterioration in response to cyclo-oxygenase (COX) inhibitors, has prompted an in depth simultaneous evaluation of multiple lipid mediators (including eicosanoids) within the inflammatory milieu in UC. We hypothesised that severity of inflammation is associated with alteration of lipid mediators, in relapsing UC.DESIGN: Study was case-control design. Mucosal lipid mediators were determined by LC-MS/MS lipidomics analysis on mucosal biopsies taken from patients attending outpatients with relapsing UC. Univariate and multivariate statistical analyses were used to investigate the association of mucosal lipid mediators, with the disease state and severity graded histologically.RESULTS: Levels of PGE2, PGD2, TXB2, 5-HETE, 11-HETE, 12-HETE and 15-HETE are significantly elevated in inflamed mucosa and correlate with severity of inflammation, determined using validated histological scoring systems.CONCLUSIONS: Our approach of capturing inflammatory mediator signature at different stages of UC by combining comprehensive lipidomics analysis and computational modelling could be used to classify and predict mild-moderate inflammation; however, predictive index is diminished in severe inflammation. This new technical approach could be developed to tailor drug treatments to patients with active UC, based on the mucosal lipid mediator profile.

Adipocytes store excess energy in the form of triglycerides and signal the levels of stored energy to the brain. Here we show that adipocyte-specific deletion of Arntl (also known as Bmal1), a gene encoding a core molecular clock component, results in obesity in mice with a shift in the diurnal rhythm of food intake, a result that is not seen when the gene is disrupted in hepatocytes or pancreatic islets. Changes in the expression of hypothalamic neuropeptides that regulate appetite are consistent with feedback from the adipocyte to the central nervous system to time feeding behavior. Ablation of the adipocyte clock is associated with a reduced number of polyunsaturated fatty acids in adipocyte triglycerides. This difference between mutant and wild-type mice is reflected in the circulating concentrations of polyunsaturated fatty acids and nonesterified polyunsaturated fatty acids in hypothalamic neurons that regulate food intake. Thus, this study reveals a role for the adipocyte clock in the temporal organization of energy regulation, highlights timing as a modulator of the adipocyte-hypothalamic axis and shows the impact of timing of food intake on body weight.

In this study, we define a new role for lipocalin prostaglandin D synthase (L-PGDS) in the control of metabolic fuel utilization by brown adipose tissue (BAT). We demonstrate that L-PGDS expression in BAT is positively correlated with BAT activity, upregulated by peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor γ coactivator 1α or 1β and repressed by receptor-interacting protein 140. Under cold-acclimated conditions, mice lacking L-PGDS had elevated reliance on carbohydrate to provide fuel for thermogenesis and had increased expression of genes regulating glycolysis and de novo lipogenesis in BAT. These transcriptional differences were associated with increased lipid content in BAT and a BAT lipid composition enriched with de novo synthesized lipids. Consistent with the concept that lack of L-PGDS increases glucose utilization, mice lacking L-PGDS had improved glucose tolerance after high-fat feeding. The improved glucose tolerance appeared to be independent of changes in insulin sensitivity, as insulin levels during the glucose tolerance test and insulin, leptin, and adiponectin levels were unchanged. Moreover, L-PGDS knockout mice exhibited increased expression of genes involved in thermogenesis and increased norepinephrine-stimulated glucose uptake to BAT, suggesting that sympathetically mediated changes in glucose uptake may have improved glucose tolerance. Taken together, these results suggest that L-PGDS plays an important role in the regulation of glucose utilization in vivo.

Nutrition during development affects risk of future cardiovascular disease. Relatively little is known about whether the amount and type of fat in the maternal diet affect vascular function in the offspring. To investigate this, pregnant and lactating rats were fed either 7%(w/w) or 21%(w/w) fat enriched in either18:2n-6, trans fatty acids, saturated fatty acids, or fish oil. Their offspring were fed 4%(w/w) soybean oil from weaning until day 77. Type and amount of maternal dietary fat altered acetylcholine (ACh)-mediated vaso-relaxation in offspring aortae and mesenteric arteries, contingent on sex. Amount, but not type, of maternal dietary fat altered phenylephrine (Pe)-induced vasoconstriction in these arteries. Maternal 21% fat diet decreased 20:4n-6 concentration in offspring aortae. We investigated the role of ?6 and ?5 desaturases, showing that their inhibition in aortae and mesenteric arteries reduced vasoconstriction, but not vaso-relaxation, and the synthesis of specific pro-constriction eicosanoids. Removal of the aortic endothelium did not alter the effect of inhibition of ?6 and ?5 desaturases on Pe-mediated vasoconstriction. Thus arterial smooth muscle 20:4n-6 biosynthesis de novo appears to be important for Pe-mediated vasoconstriction. Next we studied genes encoding these desaturases, finding that maternal 21% fat reduced Fads2 mRNA expression and increased Fads1 in offspring aortae, indicating dysregulation of 20:4n-6 biosynthesis. Methylation at CpG -394 bp 5' to the Fads2 transcription start site predicted its expression. This locus was hypermethylated in offspring of dams fed 21% fat. Pe treatment of aortae for 10 minutes increased Fads2, but not Fads1, mRNA expression (76%; P

High personal UVR doses can be gained during leisure activities, causing intense self-resolving inflammation (sunburn) of unprotected skin. UVR activates release of membrane fatty acids and upregulates their metabolism by cyclooxygenases (COX) and lipoxygenases (LOX) to different eicosanoids. While COX-derived prostaglandin (PG)E2 is a potent mediator of sunburn vasodilatation, LOX-derived 15-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (HETE) and its lipoxin metabolites may contribute to sunburn limitation. We explored the relationships between expression of these lipid mediators and the clinical and histological outcomes, comparing responses of individuals prone and more resistant to sunburn. An acute UVR exposure of 12 SED (standard erythema dose) was applied to buttock skin of 32 white Caucasians (n = 16 phototype I/II, n = 16 phototype III/IV), and over the subsequent 72 h assessments were made of skin erythema, immunohistochemical expression of leukocyte markers, COX-2, 12-LOX, 15-LOX and nitric oxide synthase (NOS), and eicosanoid levels by LC/ESI-MS/MS. Evidence of a significant inflammatory response was seen earlier in phototype I/II with regard to expression of erythema (4h, p < 0.001), neutrophil infiltration (24 h, p = 0.01), epidermal COX-2 (24 h, p < 0.05) and 12-LOX (24 h, p < 0.01), and dermal eNOS (24 h, p < 0.05) proteins, although CD3+ lymphocyte infiltration showed an earlier increase in phototype III/IV (24 h, p < 0.05). Although erythema was equivalent at 72 h in both groups, phototype I/II showed higher PGE2 accompanied by elevated 15-HETE, and a strong positive correlation was seen between these mediators (n = 18, r = 0.805, p = 0.0001). Hence anti-inflammatory eicosanoid 15-HETE may temper the pro-inflammatory milieu in sunburn, having greater influence in those prone to sunburn than those more resistant, given the same high UVR exposure conditions.

A number of recent studies suggest that mitochondrial oxidative damage may be associated with atherosclerosis and the metabolic syndrome. However, much of the evidence linking mitochondrial oxidative damage and excess reactive oxygen species (ROS) with these pathologies is circumstantial. Consequently the importance of mitochondrial ROS in the etiology of these disorders is unclear. Furthermore, the potential of decreasing mitochondrial ROS as a therapy for these indications is not known. We assessed the impact of decreasing mitochondrial oxidative damage and ROS with the mitochondria-targeted antioxidant MitoQ in models of atherosclerosis and the metabolic syndrome (fat-fed ApoE(-/-) mice and ATM(+/-)/ApoE(-/-) mice, which are also haploinsufficient for the protein kinase, ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM). MitoQ administered orally for 14weeks prevented the increased adiposity, hypercholesterolemia, and hypertriglyceridemia associated with the metabolic syndrome. MitoQ also corrected hyperglycemia and hepatic steatosis, induced changes in multiple metabolically relevant lipid species, and decreased DNA oxidative damage (8-oxo-G) in multiple organs. Although MitoQ did not affect overall atherosclerotic plaque area in fat-fed ATM(+/+)/ApoE(-/-) and ATM(+/-)/ApoE(-/-) mice, MitoQ reduced the macrophage content and cell proliferation within plaques and 8-oxo-G. MitoQ also significantly reduced mtDNA oxidative damage in the liver. Our data suggest that MitoQ inhibits the development of multiple features of the metabolic syndrome in these mice by affecting redox signaling pathways that depend on mitochondrial ROS such as hydrogen peroxide. These findings strengthen the growing view that elevated mitochondrial ROS contributes to the etiology of the metabolic syndrome and suggest a potential therapeutic role for mitochondria-targeted antioxidants.

Introduction Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a relapsing remitting disorder of the colon with a recognised role for certain eicosanoid mediators derived from polyunsaturated lipid substrates. However, a detailed characterisation of the eicosanoids involved in UC is currently lacking. Using a comprehensive lipidomics approach, we profiled eicosanoids that could exhibit both pro- and anti-inflammatory function in inflamed and non-inflamed colonic mucosal biopsies from UC patients. Methods Biopsies were taken from inflamed and nearby non-inflamed colonic mucosa (69 patients, 54 with paired inflamed and non-inflamed mucosa) from patients with symptomatic relapses. Inflammation was scored endoscopically and histologically. Mucosal lipid mediators were determined by LC-MS/MS lipidomics analysis. Univariate and multivariate statistical analyses were used to investigate the association of lipid mediators with the disease state as well as histologically assessed disease severity (using the Gomes scoring system). Results Arachidonic acid (AA), but not eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), derived eicosanoids (prostaglandin (PG)E2, PGD2, thromboxaneB2, 5-hydroxy-eicosatetraenoic acid (HETE), 11-HETE, 12-HETE and 15-HETE), were significantly (p Conclusion There is an upregulation of AA derived inflammatory mediators in UC. This research suggests new eicosanoid targets for research and therapeutic intervention. Disclosure of Interest None Declared

Introduction Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a colonic inflammatory disorder of unconfirmed aetiology. Eicosanoids, inflammatory mediators involved in UC pathogenesis, are enzymatically converted from dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), arachidonic acid (AA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), themselves competitive substrates also generated via a fatty acid (FA) biosynthetic cascade. Dietary studies using fish oil-derived EPA have been disappointing in UC; we hypothesised that the PUFA biosynthetic pathway in inflamed tissue is altered. This study evaluated PUFA profile in inflamed and non-inflamed mucosa from UC patients and compared to matched controls. Methods Ethical approval was obtained. Patients were prospectively recruited from outpatients9 clinics. Mucosal biopsies at flexible sigmoidoscopy (FS) were taken from UC patients within inflamed and normal proximal mucosa. Age-sex matched control patients undergoing FS for functional symptoms were compared. Inflammation was scored endoscopically and histologically. Membrane bound FA (MBFA): Biopsies were spiked with deuterated internal standard, followed by liquid-liquid extraction and quantitative gas chromatography mass spectrometry (MS). Free Fatty Acid (FFA): Biopsies were homogenised, followed by solid phase extraction and liquid chromatography orbitrap MS. Data were expressed as percentage abundance. Dietary fatty acid analysis was undertaken. Wilcoxon signed rank pair and Spearman9s correlation analysis were employed. Results 69 active UC patients (54 paired normal/inflamed mucosa) and 69 controls were compared. No biologically significant differences were noted between endoscopically normal mucosa from UC patients and controls other than DPA (p Conclusion Mucosal PUFA bioavailability is altered in active UC, with significant elevation of AA and reduction of LA, αLNA and EPA. This suggests modification of the FA biosynthetic pathway with elevated delivery of AA as a precursor of pro-inflammatory eicosanoids in active UC. These findings may explain the lack of efficacy of supplemental fish oil and suggests new alternative therapeutic targets. Competing interests None declared.

Glucose is the primary source of energy for the brain but also an important source of building blocks for proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. Little is known about the use of glucose for biosynthesis in tissues at the cellular level. We demonstrate that local cerebral metabolic activity can be mapped in mouse brain tissue by quantitatively imaging the biosynthetic products deriving from [U-(13)C]glucose metabolism using a combination of in situ electron microscopy and secondary ion mass-spectroscopy (NanoSIMS). Images of the (13)C-label incorporated into cerebral ultrastructure with ca. 100 nm resolution allowed us to determine the timescale on which the metabolic products of glucose are incorporated into different cells, their sub-compartments and organelles. These were mapped in astrocytes and neurons in the different layers of the motor cortex. We see evidence for high metabolic activity in neurons via the nucleus (13)C enrichment. We observe that in all the major cell compartments, such as e.g. nucleus and Golgi apparatus, neurons incorporate substantially higher concentrations of (13)C-label than astrocytes.

Background: Micronutrient supplementation has been extensively explored as a strategy to improve health and reduce risk of chronic diseases. Fat-soluble vitamins like A and E with their antioxidant properties and mechanistic interactions with lipoproteins, have potentially a key impact on lipid metabolism and lipidemia., Objective: The impact of micronutrients on lipid metabolism requires further investigation including characterization of plasma lipidome following supplementation and any cause-effect on circulating lipids., Design: In this study, we elucidate the effect and associations of a multi-micronutrient intervention in Brazilian children and teens with lipoprotein alterations and lipid metabolism., Results: Our analysis suggests a combination of short and long-term impact of supplementation on lipid metabolism, potentially mediated primarily by alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E) and retinol (vitamin A). Among the lipid classes, levels of phospholipids, lysophospholipids, and cholesterol esters were impacted the most along with differential incorporation of stearic, palmitic, oleic and arachidonic acids. Integrated analysis with proteomic data suggested potential links to supplementation-mediated alterations in protein levels of phospholipases and pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 1 (PDK1)., Conclusions: Associations between the observed differences in lipidemia, total triglyceride, and VLDL-cholesterol levels suggest that micronutrients may play a role in reducing these risk factors for cardiovascular disease in children. This would require further investigation. (C) 2019 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.

In mammals, glycogen synthesis and degradation are dynamic processes regulating blood and cerebral glucose-levels within a well-defined physiological range. Despite the essential role of glycogen in hepatic and cerebral metabolism, its spatiotemporal distribution at the molecular and cellular level is unclear. By correlating electron microscopy and ultra-high resolution ion microprobe (NanoSIMS) imaging of tissue from fasted mice injected with (13)C-labeled glucose, we demonstrate that liver glycogenesis initiates in the hepatocyte perinuclear region before spreading toward the cell membrane. In the mouse brain, we observe that (13)C is inhomogeneously incorporated into astrocytic glycogen at a rate ~25 times slower than in the liver, in agreement with prior bulk studies. This experiment, using temporally resolved, nanometer-scale imaging of glycogen synthesis and degradation, provides greater insight into glucose metabolism in mammalian organs and shows how this technique can be used to explore biochemical pathways in healthy and diseased states.