no / Bioactive lipid mediators derived from polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and exhibit a range of tissue and cell-specific activities in many physiological and pathological processes. Electrospray tandem mass spectrometry coupled to liquid chromatography (LC/ESI-MS/MS) is a sensitive, versatile analytical methodology for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of lipid mediators. Here we present an LC/ESI-MS/MS assay for the simultaneous analysis of twenty mono- and poly-hydroxy fatty acid derivatives of linoleic, arachidonic, eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids. The assay was linear over the concentration range 1-100 pg/¿L, whilst the limits of detection and quantitation were 10-20 and 20-50 pg respectively. The recovery of the extraction methodology varied from 76-122% depending on the metabolite. This system is useful for profiling a range of biochemically-related potent mediators including the newly discovered resolvins and protectins, and their precursor hydroxy-eicosapentaenoic and hydroxy-docosahexaenoic acids, and, consequently, advance our understanding of the role of PUFA in health and disease. / Wellcome Trust, British Heart Foundation

Les neutrophiles jouent un rôle central dans la défense de l'hôte contre les infections et les lésions tissulaires. Les neutrophiles intègrent des signaux opposés au sein du microenvironnement inflammatoire, qui convergent vers des récepteurs sélectionnés. Parmi ces récepteurs se trouve le récepteur pléiotrope, le récepteur du formyle peptide 2/récepteur de la lipoxine (FPR2/ALX) qui peut reconnaître plus de 20 ligands protéiques, peptidiques et lipidiques structurellement divers. Parmi ces ligands se trouvent des peptides N-formylés libérés par les mitochondries de cellules hôtes mourantes ou mortes. À l'heure actuelle, on sait peu de choses sur la base moléculaire de la façon dont FPR2/ALX intègre des signaux opposés et déclenche diverses réponses biologiques. Nous avons constaté que le récepteur pléiotrope FPR2/ALX intègre des signaux opposés qui régissent la phagocytose, la destruction bactérienne, le sort des neutrophiles et, finalement, le résultat de la réponse inflammatoire. Cette action des peptides N-formylés est médiée par l'induction de la libération d'élastase neutrophile à partir des granules primaires et la régulation négative subséquente du récepteur C5a du complément à la surface cellulaire, qui peut être inversée par des médiateurs lipidiques pro-résolvants, déclenchée par l'aspirine 15-épi- lipoxine A4 (15-epi-LXA4) et 17-épi-résolvine D1 (17-epi-RvD1). Cela peut contribuer au développement de nouvelles stratégies pharmacologiques visant à améliorer les mécanismes de protection médiés par FPR2/ALX qui peuvent limiter la réponse inflammatoire et favoriser la résolution de l'inflammation. / Neutrophils play a central role in host defense against infection and tissue injury. PMNs integrate opposing cues within the inflammatory microenvironment, which converge on selected receptors. Among these receptors is the pleiotropic receptor, formyl peptide receptor 2/lipoxin receptor (FPR2/ALX), which can recognize over 20 structurally diverse proteins, peptides, and lipid ligands. Among these ligands are N-formylated peptides released from mitochondria of dying or dead host cells. At present, little is known about the molecular basis for how FPR2/ALX integrates opposing cues and triggers diverse biological responses. We wanted to test the effect of N-formylated peptides on human neutrophils' functions in sepsis-like syndrome. We found that the pleiotropic receptor FPR2/ALX integrates opposing signals that govern phagocytosis, bacterial killing, the fate of neutrophils, and ultimately the outcome of the inflammatory response. This action of N-formylated peptides is mediated through induction of the release of neutrophil elastase from the primary granules and subsequent downregulation of complement C5a receptor on the cell surface. This effect can be reversed by pro-resolving lipid mediators, aspirin-triggered 15-epi-lipoxin A4 (15-epi-LXA4) and 17-epi-resolvin D1 (17-epi-RvD1). Our results could lead to the development of novel pharmacological strategies to enhance FPR2/ALX-mediated protective mechanisms that may limit the inflammatory response and promote the resolution of inflammation.

Lipids are important for structural and physiological functions of neuronal cell membranes. They exhibit a range of biological effects many are bioactive lipid mediators derived from polyunsaturated fatty acids such as sphingolipids, fatty acid ethanolamides (FA-EA) and endocannabinoids (EC). These lipid mediators and oxysterols elicit potent bioactive functions in many physiological and pathological processes of the brain and neuronal tissues. They have been investigated for biomarker discovery of ageing, neuroinflammation and neurodegenerative disorders. The n-3 fatty acids EPA and DPA are thought to exhibit a range of neuroprotective effects many of which are mediated through production of such lipid mediators. The aims of this study were to evaluate the effects of n-3 EPA and n-3 DPA supplementation on RBC membranes and in this way assess dietary compliance and to investigate brain sphingomyelin species of adult and aged rats supplemented with n-3 EPA and n-3 DPA to evaluate the effects and benefits on age-related changes in the brain. Furthermore, to study the effects of lithium on the brain FA-EAs and ECs to further understand the neuroprotective effects of lithium neuroprotective action on neuroinflammation as induced by LPS. Finally to examine if circulating oxysterols are linked to the prevalence of ALS and whether RBC fatty acids are markers of this action in relation to age and disease stages. These analytes were extracted from tissue samples and analysed with GC, LC/ESI-MS/MS and GC-MS. It was found that aged rats exhibited a significant increase in brain AA and decrease in ¿n-3 and ¿n-6 PUFAs when compared to adult animals. The observed increase of brain AA was reversed following n-3 EPA and n-3 DPA supplementation. Sphingomyelin was significantly increased when aged animals were supplemented with n-3 DPA. LPS treatment following lithium supplementation increased LA-EA and ALA-EA, while it decreased DHA-EA. Both oxysterols 24-OH and 27-OH increased in ALS patients and SOD1-mice. Eicosadienoic acid was different in ASL-patients compared to aged SOD1-mice. These studies demonstrated that dietary intake of n-3 EPA and n-3DPA significantly altered RBC fatty acids and sphingolipids in rat brain. They suggest that n-3 DPA can be a potential storage form for EPA, as shown by retro-conversion of n-3 DPA into EPA in erythrocyte membranes, ensuring supply of n-3 EPA. Also, n-3 EPA and n-3 DPA supplementation can contribute to an increase in brain sphingomyelin species with implications for age effects and regulation of brain development. Effects of lithium highlight novel anti-neuroinflammatory treatment pathways. Both 24-hydroxycholesterol and eicosadienoic acid may be used as biomarkers in ALS thereby possibly helping to manage the progressive stages of disease. / Libyan Government