International Journal of Molecular Sciences

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Satoshi Ishii

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Guest Editor

Department of Immunology, Akita University Graduate School of Medicine, Akita 010-8543, Japan
Interests: lysophosphatidic acid; LPA; G protein-coupled receptor; signal transduction; angiogenesis; lymphangiogenesis; mesenchymal stem cells; adipogenesis

Dr. Eric Camerer

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

1. Paris Cardiovascular Research Center, Université Paris Cité, 75006 Paris, France
2. INSERM, 75015 Paris, France
Interests: sphingosine 1-phosphate; G protein-coupled receptors; signal transduction, vascular biology, vascular development; endothelial function; ischemic stroke; hemostasis

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Lipids such as glycerolipids, sphingolipids and cholesterol are abundant intracellularly in biological membranes and fat droplets and extracellularly in lipoproteins. The production and degradation of these lipids are tightly regulated by many metabolic enzymes. Some lipid metabolic processes produce bioactive lipids (i.e., lipid mediators), which are responsible for various biological regulatory functions. Lipid mediators include arachidonic acid-derived molecules such as prostanoids and leukotrienes, as well as lysophospholipids such as lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) and sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P). Platelet-activating factor (PAF), 2-arachidonoyl glycerol and fatty acids are also bioactive. Most of these lipid mediators bind to specific G protein-coupled receptors on the plasma membrane and mobilize second messengers within the cell to exert their effects. Others, such as cholesterol-derived steroid hormones, vitamin D and vitamin A, bind to nuclear receptors and regulate gene transcription. This Special Issue aims to update the current understandings about new roles of lipid mediators in health and diseases and to feature the latest progress in the molecular mechanisms of their functions. Studies on the metabolism of lipid mediators are also welcome. We invite you to contribute either in the form of original research articles or review articles.

Dr. Satoshi Ishii
Dr. Eric Camerer
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

prostaglandins
prostanoids
leukotrienes
phospholipids
lysophospholipids
endocannabinoids
fatty acids
steroids
GPCRs
signal transduction
nuclear receptors
metabolic enzymes

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 1673 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Rising Lysophosphatidylcholine Levels Post-Hepatitis C Clearance

by Georg Peschel, Sabrina Krautbauer, Kilian Weigand, Jonathan Grimm, Marcus Höring, Gerhard Liebisch, Martina Müller and Christa Buechler

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(2), 1198; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25021198 - 18 Jan 2024

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Abstract

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection alters lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) metabolism, enhancing viral infectivity and replication. Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) effectively treat HCV and rapidly normalize serum cholesterol. In serum, LPC species are primarily albumin-bound but are also present in lipoprotein particles. This study aims to assess the impact of HCV eradication on serum LPC species levels in patients infected with HCV. Therefore, 12 different LPC species were measured by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS) in the sera of 178 patients with chronic HCV infections at baseline, and in 176 of these patients after therapy with DAAs. All LPC species increased at 4 and 12 weeks post-initiation of DAA therapy. The serum profiles of the LPC species were similar before and after the viral cure. Patients with HCV and liver cirrhosis exhibited lower serum levels of all LPC species, except LPC 16:1, both before and after DAA treatment. Percentages of LPC 18:1 (relative to the total LPC level) were higher, and % LPC 22:5 and 22:6 were lower in cirrhotic compared to non-cirrhotic patients at baseline and at the end of therapy. LPC species levels inversely correlated with the model of end-stage liver disease score and directly with baseline and post-therapy albumin levels. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis indicated an area under the curve of 0.773 and 0.720 for % LPC 18:1 (relative to total LPC levels) for classifying fibrosis at baseline and post-therapy, respectively. In summary, HCV elimination was found to increase all LPC species and elevated LPC 18:1 relative to total LPC levels may have pathological significance in HCV-related liver cirrhosis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Molecular Research of Lipid Mediators)

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Graphical abstract

Review

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12 pages, 1502 KiB

Open AccessReview

The Role of Phospholipid Alterations in Mitochondrial and Brain Dysfunction after Cardiac Arrest

by Rishabh C. Choudhary, Cyrus E. Kuschner, Jacob Kazmi, Liam Mcdevitt, Blanca B. Espin, Mohammed Essaihi, Mitsuaki Nishikimi, Lance B. Becker and Junhwan Kim

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(9), 4645; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25094645 - 24 Apr 2024

Viewed by 531

Abstract

The human brain possesses three predominate phospholipids, phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and phosphatidylserine (PS), which account for approximately 35–40%, 35–40%, and 20% of the brain’s phospholipids, respectively. Mitochondrial membranes are relatively diverse, containing the aforementioned PC, PE, and PS, as well as phosphatidylinositol (PI) and phosphatidic acid (PA); however, cardiolipin (CL) and phosphatidylglycerol (PG) are exclusively present in mitochondrial membranes. These phospholipid interactions play an essential role in mitochondrial fusion and fission dynamics, leading to the maintenance of mitochondrial structural and signaling pathways. The essential nature of these phospholipids is demonstrated through the inability of mitochondria to tolerate alteration in these specific phospholipids, with changes leading to mitochondrial damage resulting in neural degeneration. This review will emphasize how the structure of phospholipids relates to their physiologic function, how their metabolism facilitates signaling, and the role of organ- and mitochondria-specific phospholipid compositions. Finally, we will discuss the effects of global ischemia and reperfusion on organ- and mitochondria-specific phospholipids alongside the novel therapeutics that may protect against injury. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Molecular Research of Lipid Mediators)

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