Nitrite and nitrate-dependent generation of anti-inflammatory fatty acid nitroalkenes

A gap in our understanding of the beneficial systemic responses to dietary constituents nitrate (NO₃⁻), nitrite (NO₂⁻) and conjugated linoleic acid (cLA) is the identification of the downstream metabolites that mediate their actions. To examine these reactions in a clinical context, investigational drug preparations of ¹⁵N-labeled NO₃⁻ and NO₂⁻ were orally administered to healthy humans with and without cLA. Mass spectrometry analysis of plasma and urine indicated that the nitrating species nitrogen dioxide was formed and reacted with the olefinic carbons of unsaturated fatty acids to yield the electrophilic fatty acid, nitro-cLA (NO₂-cLA). These species mediate the post-translational modification (PTM) of proteins via reversible Michael addition with nucleophilic amino acids. The PTM of critical target proteins by electrophilic lipids has been described as a sensing mechanism that regulates adaptive cellular responses, but little is known about the endogenous generation of fatty acid nitroalkenes and their metabolites. We report that healthy humans consuming ¹⁵N-labeled NO₃⁻ or NO₂⁻, with and without cLA supplementation, produce ¹⁵NO₂-cLA and corresponding metabolites that are detected in plasma and urine. These data support that the dietary constituents NO₃⁻, NO₂^- and cLA promote the further generation of secondary electrophilic lipid products that are absorbed into the circulation at concentrations sufficient to exert systemic effects before being catabolized or excreted.     

Gas chromatographic and mass spectrometric analysis of conjugated steroids in urine

This study was carried out qualitatively and quantitatively to investigate the presence and the concentrations of anabolic steroids in urine collected from orally administered humans. Microanalysis of conjugated steroids by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC/MS) has been carried out. Following oral administration three major metabolites of anabolic steroid drugs have been detected and partially characterized. The six steroids can be analysed at the same time in 17 min. The lower detection limit was 10 ng/ml in 5 ml of urine. The conjugated steroids from urine were centrifuged to 2,430g for 10 min, the supernatant solution passed through Amberlite XAD-2 column and the steroids eluted fraction esterified by using MSTFA and TMSI. The rate of metabolism and urinary excretion seem to be reasonably fast.     

Layer-by-layer Synthesis and Transfer of Freestanding Conjugated Microporous Polymer Nanomembranes

CMP as large surface area materials have attracted growing interest recently, due to their high variability in the incorporation of functional groups in combination with their outstanding thermal and chemical stability, and low densities. However, their insoluble nature causes problems in their processing since usually applied techniques such as spin coating are not available. Especially for membrane applications, where the processing of CMP as thin films is desirable, the processing problems have hindered their commercial application.Here we describe the interfacial synthesis of CMP thin films on functionalized substrates via molecular layer-by-layer (l-b-l) synthesis. This process allows the preparation of films with desired thickness and composition and even desired composition gradients.The use of sacrificial supports allows the preparation of freestanding membranes by dissolution of the support after the synthesis. To handle such ultra-thin freestanding membranes the protection with sacrificial coatings showed great promise, to avoid rupture of the nanomembranes. To transfer the nanomembranes to the desired substrate, the coated membranes are upfloated at the air-liquid interface and then transferred via dip coating.     

共轭亚油酸降血脂及抗动脉粥样硬化作用的研究

目的:探讨共轭亚油酸降血脂及抗动脉粥样硬化形成的作用机制。方法:选用大鼠随机分为正常对照组,高脂模型组,c9,t11CLA:t10,c12CLA=2:1、1:1、1:3、1:6,只含t10,c12CLA共7组。实验至第8周末取血,检测血清胆固醇(TC)、三酰甘油(TG)、高密度脂蛋白(HDL)、低密度脂蛋白(LDL)和丙二醛(MDA)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性。结果:与高脂模型组比较,共轭亚油酸组大鼠血清TC、TG、MDA含量明显降低,HDL、SOD含量明显提高(P<0.05)。结论:共轭亚油酸具有降低血脂和抗动脉粥样硬化的作用。     

Molecular dynamic simulation study of cholesterol and conjugated double bonds in lipid bilayers

Conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) are found naturally in dairy products. Two isomers of CLA, that differ only in the location of cis and trans double bonds, are found to have distinct and different biological effects. The cis 9 trans 11 (C9T11) isomer is believed to have anti-carcinogenic effects, while the trans 10 cis 12 (T10C12) isomer is believed to be associated with anti-obesity effects. In this paper we extend earlier molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of pure CLA–phosphatidylcholine bilayers to investigate the comparative effects of cholesterol on bilayers composed of the two respective isomers. Simulations of phosphatidylcholine lipid bilayers in which the sn-2 chains contained one of the two isomers of CLA were performed in which, for each isomer, the simulated bilayers contained 10% and 30% cholesterol (Chol). From MD trajectories we calculate and compare structural properties of the bilayers, including areas per molecule, thickness of bilayers, tilt angle of cholesterols, order parameter profiles, and one and two-dimensional radial distribution function (RDF), as functions of Chol concentration. While the structural effect of cholesterol is approximately the same for both isomers, we find differences at an atomistic level in order parameter profiles and in two-dimensional radial distribution functions.     

Conjugated double bonds in lipid bilayers: a molecular dynamics simulation study

Conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) are found naturally in dairy products. Two isomers of CLA, that differ only in the location of cis and trans double bonds, are found to have distinct and different biological effects. The cis 9 trans 11 (C9T11) isomer is attributed to have the anti-carcinogenic effects, while the trans 10 cis 12 (T10C12) isomer is believed to be responsible for the anti-obesity effects. Since dietary CLA are incorporated into membrane phospholipids, we have used Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations to investigate the comparative effects of the two isomers on lipid bilayer structure. Specifically, simulations of phosphatidylcholine lipid bilayers in which the sn-2 chains contained one of the two isomers of CLA were performed. Force field parameters for the torsional potential of double bonds were obtained from ab initio calculations. From the MD trajectories we calculated and compared structural properties of the two lipid bilayers, including areas per molecule, density profiles, thickness of bilayers, tilt angle of tail chains, order parameters profiles, radial distribution function (RDF) and lateral pressure profiles. The main differences found between bilayers of the two CLA isomers, are (1) the order parameter profile for C9T11 has a dip in the middle of sn-2 chain while the profile for T10C12 has a deeper dip close to terminal of sn-2 chain, and (2) the lateral pressure profiles show differences between the two isomers. Our simulation results reveal localized physical structural differences between bilayers of the two CLA isomers that may contribute to different biological effects through differential interactions with membrane proteins or cholesterol.     

共轭亚油酸甘油酯对大鼠血清脂肪酸组成影响的研究

目的：研究共轭亚油酸甘油酯对高脂饮食大鼠血清脂肪酸组成变化的影响;方法：60 只SD 大鼠随机分为5 组：正常对照 组、高脂对照组,共轭亚油酸甘油酯低（2 g/kg·bw）、中（4 g/kg·bw）、高（6 g/kg·bw）剂量组,除基础对照组外其余各组均喂饲高脂 饲料,建立高脂模型,以灌胃方式给予受试物,6 周后取血清测定其脂肪酸组成。采用一步法直接对血清中脂肪酸进行甲酯化,气 相色谱毛细管柱分离,氢火焰离子化检测器（FID）定性定量分析;结果：共轭亚油酸甘油酯低、中、高剂量组大鼠血清中单不饱和 脂肪酸含量为25.66%,18.74%,17.72%,与高脂对照组相比显著性下降（P<0.01）,各剂量组饱和脂肪酸和多不饱和脂肪酸含量分 别为48.08%,48.52%,51.15%和27.03%,29.28%,31.13%,与高脂对照组相比显著性升高（P<0.01）。几种代表性脂肪酸如各剂量 组中的油酸、亚油酸与高脂对照组相比分别增加了26.48%,41.56%,51.26% 和9.18%,8.61%,8.73%,各剂量组中棕榈酸与高脂对 照组相比降低了5.28%, 8.80%, 10.92%。结论：共轭亚油酸甘油酯能够增加大鼠血清中饱和脂肪酸和多不饱和脂肪酸的含量,减 少单不饱和脂肪酸含量,改变血清脂肪酸组成。     

Synthesis and biological activity of hydroxylated derivatives of linoleic acid and conjugated linoleic acids

Allylic hydroxylated derivatives of the C18 unsaturated fatty acids were prepared from linoleic acid (LA) and conjugated linoleic acids (CLAs). The reaction of LA methyl ester with selenium dioxide (SeO₂) gave mono-hydroxylated derivatives, 13-hydroxy-9Z,11E-octadecadienoic acid, 13-hydroxy-9E,11E-octadecadienoic acid, 9-hydroxy-10E,12Z-octadecadienoic acid and 9-hydroxy-10E,12E-octadecadienoic acid methyl esters. In contrast, the reaction of CLA methyl ester with SeO₂ gave di-hydroxylated derivatives as novel products including, erythro-12,13-dihydroxy-10E-octadecenoic acid, erythro-11,12-dihydroxy-9E-octadecenoic acid, erythro-10,11-dihydroxy-12E-octadecenoic acid and erythro-9,10-dihydroxy-11E-octadecenoic acid methyl esters. These products were purified by normal-phase short column vacuum chromatography followed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Their chemical structures were characterized by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR). The allylic hydroxylated derivatives of LA and CLA exhibited moderate in vitro cytotoxicity against a panel of human cancer cell lines including chronic myelogenous leukemia K562, myeloma RPMI8226, hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 and breast adenocarcinoma MCF-7 cells (IC₅₀ 10-75 μM). The allylic hydroxylated derivatives of LA and CLA also showed toxicity to brine shrimp with LD₅₀ values in the range of 2.30-13.8 μM. However these compounds showed insignificant toxicity to honeybee at doses up to 100 μg/bee.     

Differential effects of conjugated linoleic acid isomers on the biophysical and biochemical properties of model membranes

Conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) are known to exert several isomer-specific biological effects, but their mechanisms of action are unclear. In order to determine whether the physicochemical effects of CLA on membranes play a role in their isomer-specific effects, we synthesized phosphatidylcholines (PCs) with 16:0 at sn-1 position and one of four CLA isomers (trans 10 cis 12 (A), trans 9 trans 11 (B), cis 9 trans 11 (C), and cis 9 cis 11 (D)) at sn-2, and determined their biophysical properties in monolayers and bilayers. The surface areas of the PCs with the two natural CLA (A and C) were similar at all pressures, but they differed significantly in the presence of cholesterol, with PC-A condensing more than PC-C. Liposomes of PC-A similarly showed increased binding of cholesterol compared to PC-C liposomes. PC-A liposomes were less permeable to carboxyfluorescein compared to PC-C liposomes. The PC with two trans double bonds (B) showed the highest affinity to cholesterol and lowest permeability. The two natural CLA-PCs (A and C) stimulated lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase activity by 2-fold, whereas the unnatural CLA-PCs (B and D) were inhibitory. These results suggest that the differences in the biophysical properties of CLA isomers A and C may partly contribute to the known differences in their biological effects.     

Demonstration of Conjugated Dopamine in Monkey CSF by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

Abstract: A method for measuring unconjugated and conjugated dopamine in body tissues and fluids is described. Conjugated dopamine was hydrolyzed in acid to unconjugated dopamine, separated from the sample matrix by alumina chromatography, and assayed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Conjugated dopamine was detected in greater concentrations than unconjugated dopamine in CSF taken from lateral ventricle or thecal sac of the Rhesus monkey. Haloperidol administration did not increase the levels of conjugated dopamine in lumbar CSF.