Proportion of nervonic acid in serum lipids is associated with serum plasmalogen levels and metabolic syndrome.

Abstract

An increase in serum plasmalogens (1-O-alk-1-enyl-2-acyl glycerophospholipids), which are endogenous anti-oxidative phospholipids, can potentially prevent age-related diseases such as atherosclerosis and metabolic syndrome (MetS). Very long chain fatty acids (VLCFAs) in plasma may supply the materials for plasmalogen biosynthesis through peroxisomal beta-oxidation. On the other hand, elevated levels of saturated and monounsaturated VLCFAs in plasma appear to be associated with decreased peroxisomal function, and are a symptom of age-related diseases. To reconcile these contradictory findings, we attempted to investigate the relationship between the serum levels of saturated and monounsaturated VLCFAs, clinical and biochemical parameters, and serum levels of plasmalogens in subjects with MetS (n = 117), who were asymptomatic Japanese males over 40 years of age. Fatty acids in serum lipids were quantified using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Serum plasmalogen levels were determined by liquid chromatography using radioactive iodine (¹²⁵I-HPLC), and the molecular composition of serum plasmalogens was analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS). We found that MetS subjects showed a significant reduction in the proportion of specific saturated and monounsaturated VLCFAs such as behenic acid (C22:0), lignoceric acid (C24:0), and nervonic acid (C24:1) in serum lipids compared to non-MetS subjects. These VLCFAs were positively associated with serum levels of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) as well as plasmalogen-related parameters, and inversely with serum levels of triglyceride (TG) and small dense low density lipoprotein cholesterol (sdLDL-C). In conclusion, the proportion of nervonic acid in serum lipids is associated with serum levels of plasmalogens and with MetS, and probably reflects the peroxisomal dysfunction and enhancement of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress seen in common age-related diseases.

• Authors: Yuya Yamazaki, Kazuya Kondo, Ryouta Maeba, Megumi Nishimukai, Toru Nezu, Hiroshi Hara
• Journal: Journal of oleo science (J Oleo Sci) Vol. 63 Issue 5 Pg. 527-37 ( 2014) ISSN: 1347-3352 [Electronic] Japan
• PMID: 24770479 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antioxidants
• Cholesterol, HDL
• Cholesterol, LDL
• Fatty Acids
• Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated
• Lipids
• Plasmalogens
• Triglycerides
• nervonic acid
• behenic acid
• lignoceric acid

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Aging
• Antioxidants
• Atherosclerosis (blood, etiology, prevention & control)
• Cholesterol, HDL (blood)
• Cholesterol, LDL (blood)
• Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
• Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress (physiology)
• Fatty Acids (analysis, isolation & purification)
• Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated (analysis, isolation & purification)
• Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
• Humans
• Lipids (blood, chemistry)
• Male
• Metabolic Syndrome (blood, etiology, prevention & control)
• Middle Aged
• Oxidation-Reduction
• Peroxisomes (physiology)
• Plasmalogens (biosynthesis, blood, physiology)
• Triglycerides (blood)