The Refsum disease marker phytanic acid, a branched chain fatty acid, affects Ca2+ homeostasis and mitochondria, and reduces cell viability in rat hippocampal astrocytes.

Abstract	The saturated branched chain fatty acid, phytanic acid, a degradation product of chlorophyll, accumulates in Refsum disease, an inherited peroxisomal disorder with neurological clinical features. To elucidate the pathogenic mechanism, we investigated the influence of phytanic acid on cellular physiology of rat hippocampal astrocytes. Phytanic acid (100 microM) induced an immediate transient increase in cytosolic Ca2+ concentration, followed by a plateau. The peak of this biphasic Ca2+ response was largely independent of extracellular Ca2+, indicating activation of cellular Ca2+ stores by phytanic acid. Phytanic acid depolarized mitochondria without causing in situ swelling of mitochondria. The slow decrease of mitochondrial potential is not consistent with fast and simultaneous opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore. However, phytanic acid induced substantial generation of reactive oxygen species. Phytanic acid caused astroglia cell death after a few hours of exposure. We suggest that the cytotoxic effect of phytanic acid seems to be due to a combined action on Ca2+ regulation, mitochondrial depolarization, and increased ROS generation in brain cells.
Authors	Stefan Kahlert, Peter Schönfeld, Georg Reiser
Journal	Neurobiology of disease (Neurobiol Dis) Vol. 18 Issue 1 Pg. 110-8 (Feb 2005) ISSN: 0969-9961 [Print] United States
PMID	15649701 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
Chemical References	Phytanic Acid Calcium
Topics	Animals Animals, Newborn Astrocytes (drug effects, metabolism, pathology) Calcium (metabolism) Calcium Signaling (drug effects, physiology) Cell Survival (drug effects, physiology) Cells, Cultured Cytosol (drug effects, metabolism) Hippocampus (drug effects, metabolism, physiopathology) Homeostasis (drug effects, physiology) Intracellular Membranes (drug effects, pathology) Membrane Potentials (drug effects, physiology) Mitochondria (drug effects, metabolism) Phytanic Acid (metabolism, toxicity) Rats Rats, Wistar Refsum Disease (etiology, metabolism, pathology) Up-Regulation (drug effects, physiology)

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