7-Hydroxycholestrol as a possible biomarker of cellular lipid peroxidation: Difference between cellular and plasma lipid peroxidation

Polyunsaturated fatty acids and their esters are known to be susceptible to free radical-mediated oxidation, whereas cholesterol is thought to be more resistant to oxidation. In fact, it has been observed that in the case of plasma lipid peroxidation, the amount of oxidation products of polyunsaturated fatty acids such as linoleic acid was higher than that of cholesterol. In contrast, during oxidative stress-induced cellular lipid peroxidation, oxidation products of cholesterol such as 7-hydroxycholesterol (7-OHCh) were detected in greater amounts than those of linoleates such as hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid (HODE). There are several forms of oxidation products of cholesterol and linoleates in vivo, namely, hydroperoxides, as well as the hydroxides of both the free and ester forms of cholesterol and linoleates. To evaluate these oxidation products, a method used to determine the lipid oxidation products after reduction and saponification was developed. With this method, several forms of oxidation products of cholesterol and linoleates are measured as total 7-OHCh (t7-OHCh) and total HODE (tHODE), respectively. During free radical-mediated lipid peroxidation in plasma, the amount of tHODE was 6.3-fold higher than that of t7-OHCh. In contrast, when Jurkat cells were exposed to free radicals, the increased amount of cellular t7-OHCh was 5.7-fold higher than that of tHODE. Higher levels of t7-OHCh than those of tHODE have also been observed in selenium-deficient Jurkat cells and glutamate-treated neuronal cells. These results suggest that, in contrast to plasma oxidation, cellular cholesterol is more susceptible to oxidation than cellular linoleates. Collectively, cholesterol oxidation products at the 7-position may be a biomarker of cellular lipid peroxidation.     

Covalent binding of oxidized cholesteryl esters to protein: implications for oxidative modification of low density lipoprotein and atherosclerosis

It has been proposed that plasma low density lipoproteins (LDL) undergo oxidative modification before they can produce foam cells in atherosclerosis. The oxidation of LDL generates a variety of reactive aldehydic products, which covalently bind to the LDL apolipoprotein B-100 (apoB). In the present study, to investigate the mechanisms contributing to the modification of LDL, we analyzed oxidized cholesteryl esters generated during the autoxidation of LDL and characterized their covalent binding to the lysine residues of LDL apoB. In addition, we raised a monoclonal antibody specific to a lysine-bound oxidized cholesteryl ester and determined its production in human atherosclerotic lesions. The peroxidation of LDL with Cu2+ produced 9-oxononanoylcholesterol (9-ONC) and 5-oxovaleroylcholesterol as the major oxidized cholesteryl esters. We observed that the levels of 9-ONC and 5-oxovaleroylcholesterol peaked at 12 h and significantly decreased thereafter. The reduction of the core aldehyde levels was accompanied by (i) the formation of free 7-ketocholesterol and 7-ketocholesteryl ester core aldehydes and (ii) an increase in the amounts of apoB-bound cholesterol and 7-ketocholesterol, suggesting that the cholesteryl ester core aldehydes were further converted to their 7-ketocholesterol- and apoB-bound derivatives. To detect the protein-bound 9-ONC, we raised the monoclonal antibody 2A81, directed against 9-ONC-modified protein, and found that it extensively recognized protein-bound cholesteryl ester core aldehydes. Agarose gel electrophoresis followed by immunoblot analysis of the oxidized LDL clearly demonstrated the formation of antigenic structures. Furthermore, immunohistochemical analysis of the atherosclerotic lesions from the human aorta showed that immunoreactive materials with mAb 2A81 were indeed present in the lesions, in which the intense immunoreactivity was mainly located in the macrophage-derived foam cells and the thickening neointima of the arterial walls. The results of this study suggest that the binding of cholesteryl ester core aldehydes to LDL might represent the process common to the oxidative modification of lipoproteins.     

A high-fat and cholesterol diet causes fatty liver in guinea pigs. The role of iron and oxidative damage

Abstract

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common chronic liver disease. Iron, cholesterol, and oxidative damage are frequently suggested to be related to the progression of NAFLD, but the precise relationship between them remains unclear. Guinea pigs fed on a high cholesterol and fat diet (without oxidized lipids) generated a disease model of NAFLD with hallmark observations in liver histology and increased liver damage markers. Hepatic cholesterol and iron levels were found to be significantly elevated and directly correlated. Plasma hepcidin and transferrin levels were decreased. Plasma iron concentrations were found to be elevated, likely due to an increased intestinal iron absorption caused by the decrease in plasma hepcidin. However, hepatic transferrin receptor-2 levels were unchanged. No significant increase in hepatic lipid peroxidation was detected using F₂-isoprostanes as a reliable biomarker, nor was there a rise in protein carbonyls, a general index of oxidative protein damage. Some increases in cholesterol oxidation products were observed, but largely negated after normalizing for the elevated hepatic cholesterol content. Indeed, increased hemosiderin deposition and unchanged ferritin levels in liver suggested that the excess iron mainly existed as hemosiderin, which is redox-inactive.     

Cholesteryl ester oxidation products in atherosclerosis

Lipid oxidation products are formed at sites of increased oxidant stress and have been shown to accumulate in atherosclerotic lesions. Although recent studies have focused on the formation and metabolism of oxidized lipids, very little is known about their biological activities and possible (patho)physiological functions. Oxidation of cholesteryl esters containing unsaturated fatty acids leads to the formation of hydroperoxides that are either reduced to alcohols or degrade into biologically active "core-aldehydes". In this review, the mechanisms of formation and metabolic fate of oxidized cholesteryl esters, their occurrence, as well as possible biological activities are discussed. Based on the current knowledge, cholesteryl ester oxidation leads to the formation of biologically active substances, which could actively contribute to the progression of atherosclerotic lesions and their resulting complications.     

Use of a heptane-isopropanol system for extraction of primary lipid peroxidation products

Products of different lipids oxidation were studied for the peculiarities of their distribution in the extracting system heptane--isopropanol widely used in spectrophotometric determination of primary products of peroxide oxidation of lipids. It is shown that hydroperoxides of phospholipids and their reduction products almost completely transfer to the alcohol phase while hydroperoxides of triacetin and cholesterol esters are 70-85% extracted by heptane. Thus, it is necessary to analyze the alcohol phase when using the systems heptane-isopropanol to determine the content of primary products of lipid peroxide oxidation in those tissues, where phospholipids are the basic oxidation substrates.     

A comprehensive study of oxidative stress and antioxidant status in preeclampsia and normal pregnancy

Oxidative stress has been increasingly postulated as a major contributor to endothelial dysfunction in preeclampsia (PE), although evidence supporting this hypothesis remains inconsistent. This study aimed to analyze in depth the potential role of oxidative stress as a mechanism underlying endothelial damage in PE and the pregnant woman's susceptibility to the disease. To this end, indicative markers of lipoperoxidation and protein oxidation and changes in antioxidant defense systems were measured in blood samples from 53 women with PE and 30 healthy pregnant controls. Results, analyzed in relation to disease severity, showed PE women, compared with women with normal pregnancy, to have: (1) significantly enhanced antioxidant enzyme SOD and GPx activities in erythrocytes; (2) similar plasma alpha-tocopherol levels and significantly increased alpha-tocopherol/lipids in both mild and severe PE; (3) significantly decreased plasma vitamin C and protein thiol levels; (4) similar erythrocyte glutathione content, total plasma antioxidant capacity, and whole plasma oxidizability values; (5) significantly elevated plasma total lipid hydroperoxides, the major initial reaction products of lipid peroxidation, in severe PE; (6) no intracellular or extracellular increases in any of the secondary end-products of lipid peroxidation, malondialdehyde or lipoperoxides; (7) similar oxidative damage to proteins quantified by plasma carbonyl levels, immunoblot analysis, and advanced oxidation protein products assessment; and (8) significantly elevated and severity-related soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 serum levels reflecting endothelial dysfunction. No correlations were found among plasma levels of circulating adhesion molecules with regard to lipid and protein oxidation markers. Globally, these data reflect mild oxidative stress in blood of preeclamptic women, as oxidative processes seem to be counteracted by the physiologic activation of antioxidant enzymes and by the high plasma vitamin E levels that would prevent further oxidative damage. These results do not permit us to conclude that oxidative stress might be a pathogenetically relevant process causally contributing to the disease.     

Zinc supplementation inhibits lipid peroxidation and the development of atherosclerosis in rabbits fed a high cholesterol diet

Developing atherosclerotic lesions in hypercholesterolemic rabbits are depleted in zinc, while iron accumulates. This study examined the influence of zinc supplementation on the development of atherosclerosis and used isotope dilution gas chromatography-mass spectrometry techniques to measure biomarkers of oxidative lipid damage in atherosclerotic rabbit aorta. Our previous method for F(2)-isoprostane measurement was adapted to include the quantitation of cholesterol oxidation products in the same sample. Two groups of New Zealand white rabbits were fed a high cholesterol (1% w/w) diet and one group was also supplemented with zinc (1 g/kg) for 8 weeks. Controls were fed a normal diet. Zinc supplementation did not significantly alter the increase in total plasma cholesterol levels observed in animals fed high cholesterol. However, in cholesterol-fed animals zinc supplementation significantly reduced the accumulation of total cholesterol levels in aorta which was accompanied by a significant reduction in average aortic lesion cross-sectional areas of the animals. Elevated levels of cholesterol oxidation products (5,6-alpha and beta cholesterol epoxides, 7beta-hydroxycholesterol, 7-ketocholesterol) in aorta and total F(2)-isoprostanes in plasma and aorta of rabbits fed a cholesterol diet were significantly decreased by zinc supplementation. Our data indicate that zinc has an antiatherogenic effect, possibly due to a reduction in iron-catalyzed free radical reactions.     

GPX4 at the Crossroads of Lipid Homeostasis and Ferroptosis

Oxygen is necessary for aerobic metabolism but can cause the harmful oxidation of lipids and other macromolecules. Oxidation of cholesterol and phospholipids containing polyunsaturated fatty acyl chains can lead to lipid peroxidation, membrane damage, and cell death. Lipid hydroperoxides are key intermediates in the process of lipid peroxidation. The lipid hydroperoxidase glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) converts lipid hydroperoxides to lipid alcohols, and this process prevents the iron (Fe²⁺)‐dependent formation of toxic lipid reactive oxygen species (ROS). Inhibition of GPX4 function leads to lipid peroxidation and can result in the induction of ferroptosis, an iron‐dependent, non‐apoptotic form of cell death. This review describes the formation of reactive lipid species, the function of GPX4 in preventing oxidative lipid damage, and the link between GPX4 dysfunction, lipid oxidation, and the induction of ferroptosis.     

Oxidation of low-density lipoprotein by iron at lysosomal pH: implications for atherosclerosis

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) has recently been shown to be oxidized by iron within the lysosomes of macrophages, and this is a novel potential mechanism for LDL oxidation in atherosclerosis. Our aim was to characterize the chemical and physical changes induced in LDL by iron at lysosomal pH and to investigate the effects of iron chelators and α-tocopherol on this process. LDL was oxidized by iron at pH 4.5 and 37 °C and its oxidation monitored by spectrophotometry and high-performance liquid chromatography. LDL was oxidized effectively by FeSO(4) (5-50 μM) and became highly aggregated at pH 4.5, but not at pH 7.4. The level of cholesteryl esters decreased, and after a pronounced lag, the level of 7-ketocholesterol increased greatly. The total level of hydroperoxides (measured by the triiodide assay) increased up to 24 h and then decreased only slowly. The lipid composition after 12 h at pH 4.5 and 37 °C was similar to that of LDL oxidized by copper at pH 7.4 and 4 °C, i.e., rich in hydroperoxides but low in oxysterols. Previously oxidized LDL aggregated rapidly and spontaneously at pH 4.5, but not at pH 7.4. Ferrous iron was much more effective than ferric iron at oxidizing LDL when added after the oxidation was already underway. The iron chelators diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid and, to a lesser extent, desferrioxamine inhibited LDL oxidation when added during its initial stages but were unable to prevent aggregation of LDL after it had been partially oxidized. Surprisingly, desferrioxamine increased the rate of LDL modification when added late in the oxidation process. α-Tocopherol enrichment of LDL initially increased the rate of oxidation of LDL but decreased it later. The presence of oxidized and highly aggregated lipid within lysosomes has the potential to perturb the function of these organelles and to promote atherosclerosis.     

Final products of lipid peroxidation in various liver diseases of alcoholic etiology

The content of lipid peroxidation products in the plasma of patients with various forms of alcohol-induced liver disorders was investigated. Plasma levels of lipid hydroperoxides in this group of patients were found to be the same as in healthy controls. Plasma content of fluorescent products of lipid oxidation was significantly elevated in patients suffering from acute alcoholic hepatitis and active alcoholic liver cirrhosis, and especially in patients with edematoascitic syndrome. The dynamics of fluorescent product plasma level reduction significantly correlated with the improvement of clinical status in the treatment of abstinent patients.     

Protective role of arzanol against lipid peroxidation in biological systems

This study examines the protective effect of arzanol, a pyrone–phloroglucinol etherodimer from Helichrysum italicum subsp. microphyllum, against the oxidative modification of lipid components induced by Cu²⁺ ions in human low density lipoprotein (LDL) and by tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBH) in cell membranes. LDL pre-treatment with arzanol significantly preserved lipoproteins from oxidative damage at 2 h of oxidation, and showed a remarkable protective effect on the reduction of polyunsaturated fatty acids and cholesterol levels, inhibiting the increase of oxidative products (conjugated dienes fatty acids hydroperoxides, 7β-hydroxycholesterol, and 7-ketocholesterol). Arzanol, at non-cytotoxic concentrations, exerted a noteworthy protection on TBH-induced oxidative damage in a line of fibroblasts derived from monkey kidney (Vero cells) and in human intestinal epithelial cells (Caco-2), decreasing, in both cell lines, the formation of oxidative products (hydroperoxides and 7-ketocholesterol) from the degradation of unsaturated fatty acids and cholesterol. The cellular uptake and transepithelial transport of the compound were also investigated in Caco-2 cell monolayers. Arzanol appeared to accumulate in Caco-2 epithelial cells. This phenol was able to pass through the intestinal Caco-2 monolayers, the apparent permeability coefficients (P_app) in the apical-to-basolateral and basolateral-to-apical direction at 2 h were 1.93 ± 0.36 × 10⁻⁵ and 2.20 ± 0.004 × 10⁻⁵ cm/s, respectively, suggesting a passive diffusion pathway. The results of the work qualify arzanol as a potent natural antioxidant with a protective effect against lipid oxidation in biological systems.     

Similarity in the distribution of F(2)-isoprostanes in the lipid subfractions of atherosclerotic plaque and in vitro oxidised low density lipoprotein

Oxidation of low density lipoprotein (LDL) in vivo is thought to play a critical role in the initiation of atherosclerosis. F(2)-isoprostanes are compounds resulting from non-enzymatic oxidation of arachidonic acid and elevated levels are present in human atherosclerotic plaque. However, little is known about the formation of F(2)-isoprostanes in plaque lesions or their distribution in lipid subclasses. Given that LDL and tissue lipid subfractions (such as phospholipids, cholesterol esters and triglycerides) all contain significant levels of arachidonic acid, the aim of this study was to examine the relative distribution of F(2)-isoprostanes in the different lipid fractions of LDL oxidised in vitro, and compare this to the distribution in atherosclerotic plaque. The results reveal that while the majority of F(2)-isoprostanes are present in the phospholipid or surface lipid fractions, the core lipids (cholesterol esters/triglycerides) contribute at least 10% of the total F(2)-isoprostanes in both LDL oxidised in vitro and human atherosclerotic plaque. The remarkably similar profiles between the oxidised LDL and advanced atherosclerotic plaque suggests oxidation in vivo, is predominantly via non-enzymatic processes directed towards the surface lipids.     

Lipid Peroxidation Scavengers Prevent the Carbonylation of Cytoskeletal Brain Proteins Induced by Glutathione Depletion

In this study, we investigated the possible link between lipid peroxidation (LPO) and the formation of protein carbonyls (PCOs) during depletion of brain glutathione (GSH). To this end, rat brain slices were incubated with the GSH depletor diethyl maleate (DEM) in the absence or presence of classical LPO scavengers: trolox, caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). All three scavengers reduced DEM-induced lipid oxidation and protein carbonylation, suggesting that intermediates/products of the LPO pathway such as lipid hydroperoxides, 4-hydroxynonenal and/or malondialdehyde are involved in the process. Additional in vitro experiments revealed that, among these products, lipid hydroperoxides are most likely responsible for protein oxidation. Interestingly, BHT prevented the carbonylation of cytoskeletal proteins but not that of soluble proteins, suggesting the existence of different mechanisms of PCO formation during GSH depletion. In pull-down experiments, beta-actin and alpha/beta-tubulin were identified as major carbonylation targets during GSH depletion, although other cytoskeletal proteins such as neurofilament proteins and glial fibrillary acidic protein were also carbonylated. These findings may be important in the context of neurological disorders that exhibit decreased GSH levels and increased protein carbonylation such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and multiple sclerosis.     

Relevance and mechanism of oxysterol stereospecifity in coronary artery disease

Cholesterol oxidation products (oxysterols) are markers for in vitro LDL oxidation. They are potent inducers of programmed cell death and are also found in high concentrations inside atherosclerotic lesions. Among physiologically occurring oxysterols, 7beta-OH-cholesterol suggests an increase of lipid peroxidation in vivo. In the underlying study, we quantified free plasma oxysterols by means of gas chromatography in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD). Total free plasma oxysterols were elevated more than 2-fold in patients with stable CAD (233 +/- 49 vs 108 +/- 19 ng/ml, n = 22, P < 0.05) compared to a control group (n = 20) with similar atherogenic risk profile and angiographically normal coronary arteries. We found that 7-ketocholesterol, as well as the beta-isomers of epoxide (25.7 +/- 10.0 vs 7.3 +/- 1.4 ng/ml, P = 0.07) and 7beta-OH-cholesterol (65.1 +/- 15.7 vs 19.4 +/- 8.9 ng/ml, P < 0.01), was mainly responsible for this increase. To elucidate a potential relevance of oxysterol stereospecificity in regard to endothelial damage, we further conducted in vitro experiments using human arterial endothelial cells (HAECs). Surprisingly, beta-isomers exerted an up to 10-fold higher amount of cell death in equivalent doses when compared to alpha-isomers. The greater cytotoxic potential of beta-isomers was due to increased apoptosis, preceded by mitochondrial release of cytochrome c with subsequent caspase-3 activation. Stereospecific release of cytochrome c depended on the presence of an intact cytoplasmic membrane, hinting at the existence of a putative oxysterol receptor or a direct stereospecific effect on membrane biology. Finally, both isoforms of oxysterols directly released cytochrome c only in conjunction with protein containing cytosol and endoplasmatic reticulum. Free plasma oxysterol levels, particularly 7-ketocholesterol, beta-epoxide and 7beta-OH-cholesterol, are elevated in patients with stable CAD, independent of their LDL cholesterol levels. Due to the highly increased cytotoxicity of oxysterol beta-isomers in vitro, they may represent important atherogenic risk factors.     

Macrophages can decrease the level of cholesteryl ester hydroperoxides in low density lipoprotein

Murine and human macrophages rapidly decreased the level of cholesteryl ester hydroperoxides in low density lipoprotein (LDL) when cultured in media non-permissive for LDL oxidation. This process was proportional to cell number but could not be attributed to the net lipoprotein uptake. Macrophage-mediated loss of lipid hydroperoxides in LDL appears to be metal ion-independent. Degradation of cholesteryl linoleate hydroperoxides was accompanied by accumulation of the corresponding hydroxide as the major product and cholesteryl keto-octadecadienoate as a minor product, although taken together these products could not completely account for the hydroperoxide consumption. Cell-conditioned medium possessed a similar capacity to remove lipid hydroperoxides as seen with cellular monolayers, suggesting that the activity is not an integral component of the cell but is secreted from it. The activity of cell-conditioned medium to lower the level of LDL lipid hydroperoxides is associated with its high molecular weight fraction and is modulated by the availability of free thiol groups. Cell-mediated loss of LDL cholesteryl ester hydroperoxides is facilitated by the presence of alpha-tocopherol in the lipoprotein. Together with our earlier reports on the ability of macrophages to remove peroxides rapidly from oxidized amino acids, peptides, and proteins as well as to clear selectively cholesterol 7-beta-hydroperoxide, results presented in this paper provide evidence of a potential protective activity of the cell against further LDL oxidation by removing reactive peroxide groups in the lipoprotein.     

Lipid peroxidation: mechanisms, inhibition, and biological effects

In the last 50 years, lipid peroxidation has been the subject of extensive studies from the viewpoints of mechanisms, dynamics, product analysis, involvement in diseases, inhibition, and biological signaling. Lipids are oxidized by three distinct mechanisms; enzymatic oxidation, non-enzymatic, free radical-mediated oxidation, and non-enzymatic, non-radical oxidation. Each oxidation mechanism yields specific products. The oxidation of linoleates and cholesterol is discussed in some detail. The relative susceptibilities of lipids to oxidation depend on the reaction milieu as well as their inherent structure. Lipid hydroperoxides are formed as the major primary products, however they are substrates for various enzymes and they also undergo various secondary reactions. Phospholipid hydroperoxides, for example, are reduced to the corresponding hydroxides by selenoproteins in vivo. Various kinds of antioxidants with different functions inhibit lipid peroxidation and the deleterious effects caused by the lipid peroxidation products. Furthermore, the biological role of lipid peroxidation products has recently received a great deal of attention, but its physiological significance must be demonstrated in future studies.     

Oxysterol profiles of normal human arteries, fatty streaks and advanced lesions.

OBJECTIVE: Human atherosclerotic lesions of different stages have quantitative differences in cholesterol and oxysterol content, but information on the oxysterol profile in fatty streaks is limited. This study aims to provide more detailed oxysterol quantification in human fatty streaks, as well as normal aorta and advanced lesions. METHODS: A newly adapted method was used, including oxysterol purification by means of a silica cartridge; and it was ensured that artifactual oxysterol formation was kept to a minimum. Cholesterol and oxysterols were estimated by GC and identification confirmed by GC-MS in samples of normal human arterial intima, intima with near-confluent fatty streaks and advanced lesions, in necropsy samples. RESULTS: The oxysterols 7 alpha-hydroxycholesterol, cholesterol-5 beta, 6 beta-epoxide, cholesterol-5 alpha, 6 alpha-epoxide, 7 beta-hydroxycholesterol, 7-ketocholesterol and 27-hydroxycholesterol (formerly known as 26-hydroxycholesterol) were found in all the lesions, but were at most very low in the normal aorta, both when related to wet weight and when related to cholesterol. Most components of the normal artery showed some cross-correlation on linear regression analysis, but cross-correlations were weaker in the fatty streaks and advanced lesions. However, in fatty streak there was a marked positive correlation between 27-hydroxycholesterol and cholesterol. CONCLUSION: The findings confirm that oxysterols are present in fatty streaks and advanced lesions and may arise from different cholesterol oxidation mechanisms, including free radical-mediated oxidation and enzymatic oxidation.     

Susceptibility of plasma lipids to peroxidation

Lipid peroxidation is an old and yet novel subject. It induces membrane disturbance and damage and its products are known to induce the generation of various cytokines and cell signaling. In the present work, the susceptibility and specificity of human plasma lipids to oxidation were studied, aiming specifically at elucidating the effects of oxidation milieu and oxidants. Cholesteryl esters (CEs) and phosphatidylcholines (PCs) were more readily oxidized in plasma than in organic solution under similar conditions. The susceptibilities of PC and free cholesterol (FC) relative to CE to free radical-mediated lipid peroxidation induced by peroxyl radicals and peroxynitrite were smaller in plasma than in organic solution. The higher rate of CE oxidation by free radicals than PC may be accounted for by the physical effects as well as higher content of polyunsaturated lipids in CE than PC. On the contrary, PC was more readily oxidized than CE by lipoxygenases. The lipid hydroperoxides were stable in organic solution but reduced to the corresponding hydroxides in plasma, the rate being much faster for PC hydroperoxides than for CE and FC hydroperoxides. It was confirmed that free radical-mediated oxidation gave both cis,trans and trans,trans, racemic, random hydroperoxides, while that by lipoxygenase gave only regio- and stereo-specific cis,trans-hydroperoxide.     

Protective effect of capsinoid on lipid peroxidation in rat tissues induced by Fe-NTA

The activity of a single IP administration (15 or 30 mg/Kg body weight) of vanillyl nonanoate, a simplified analog of capsiate, on ferric nitrilotriacetate (Fe-NTA)-mediated oxidative damage was investigated. A sub-lethal dose of Fe-NTA (15 mg Fe/Kg body weight) was administered IP to rats; animals were sacrificed, and kidney and plasma were collected 1 h after injection. In response to the Fe-NTA administration, a reduction of the levels of total lipids, total unsaturated fatty acids and cholesterol was observed, accompanied by a rise in the concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA), conjugated dienes fatty acids hydroperoxides and 7-ketocholesterol in plasma and kidney 1 h after administration. A pre-treatment with synthetic capsiate (SCPT) showed remarkable protective effect on the reduction of the levels of total lipids, total unsaturated fatty acids and cholesterol, and the cellular antioxidant vitamin E, inhibiting the increase of MDA, conjugated dienes fatty acids hydroperoxides and 7-ketocholesterol in the plasma and kidney. The protective effect of SCPT and two analogues (vanillyl alcohol and vanillin) during the linoleic acid and cholesterol oxidation was investigated in in vitro systems, providing evidence of definite structure-activity relationships.     

Oxidative degradation of model lipids representative for main paper pulp lipophilic extractives by the laccase–mediator system

Different model lipids-alkanes, fatty alcohols, fatty acids, resin acids, free sterols, sterol esters, and triglycerides-were treated with Pycnoporus cinnabarinus laccase in the presence of 1-hydroxybenzotriazole as mediator, and the products were analyzed by gas chromatography. The laccase alone decreased the concentration of some unsaturated lipids. However, the most extensive lipid modification was obtained with the laccase-mediator system. Unsaturated lipids were largely oxidized and the dominant products detected were epoxy and hydroxy fatty acids from fatty acids and free and esterified 7-ketosterols and steroid ketones from sterols and sterol esters. The former compounds suggested unsaturated lipid attack via the corresponding hydroperoxides. The enzymatic reaction on sterol esters largely depended on the nature of the fatty acyl moiety, i.e., oxidation of saturated fatty acid esters started at the sterol moiety, whereas the initial attack of unsaturated fatty acid esters was produced on the fatty acid double bonds. In contrast, saturated lipids were not modified, although some of them decreased when the laccase-mediator reactions were carried out in the presence of unsaturated lipids suggesting participation of lipid peroxidation radicals. These results are discussed in the context of enzymatic control of pitch to explain the removal of lipid mixtures during laccase-mediator treatment of different pulp types.