Phospholipid methylation in fibroblasts of patients with trisomy 21

Comparative studies of phospholipid methylation in normal and Down syndrome (trisomy 21) fibroblasts were performed on a series of 7 pairs. Two patients showed an increased phospholipid methylation pathway as compared to the appropriate controls; one patient showed a decreased pathway; and in four patients there was no significant difference. The phospholipid methylation pathway appears to be a minor pathway, as compared to the choline pathway of phosphatidylcholine synthesis and thus does not allow the detection of an eventual disturbance of monocarbon metabolism in Down syndrome.