An apolipoprotein E (APOE) 4 genotype is the most important, common genetic determinant for Alzheimer disease (AD), and female APOE4 carriers present with an increased risk compared with males. The study quantified cortical and hippocampal fatty acid and phospholipid profiles along with select eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)‐ and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)‐derived specialized proresolving mediators (SPMs) in 2‐, 9‐, and 18‐mo‐old APOE3 and APOE4 male and female mice. A 10% lower cortical DHA was evident in APOE4 females at 18 mo compared with 2 mo, with no significant decrease in APOE3 or APOE4 males. This decrease was associated with a reduction in DHA‐phosphatidylethanolamine. Older APOE4 females had a 15% higher oleic acid content compared with young mice. Although no sex* APOE genotype interactions were observed for SPMs expressed as a ratio of their parent compound, higher cortical 18R/S‐hydroxy‐5Z,8Z,11Z,14Z,16E‐EPA, resolvin D3, protectin D1, 10S,17S‐dihydroxy‐4Z,7Z,11E,13E,15Z,19Z‐DHA (10S,17S‐diHDHA), maresin 1, 17S‐hydroxy‐4Z,7Z,10Z,13Z,15E,19Z‐DHA, and 14S‐hydroxy‐4Z,7Z,10Z,12E,16Z,19Z‐DHA were evident in females, and lower cortical 17R‐resolvin D1, 10S,17S‐diHDHA, and 18‐HEPE in APOE4. Our findings show a strong association between age, female sex, and an APOE4 genotype, with decreased cortical DHA and a number of SPMs, which together may contribute to the development of cognitive decline and AD pathology.—Martinsen, A., Tejera, N., Vauzour, D., Harden, G., Dick, J., Shinde, S., Barden, A., Mori, T. A., Minihane, A. M. Altered SPMs and age‐associated decrease in brain DHA in APOE4 female mice. FASEB J. 33, 10315–10326 (2019). http://www.fasebj.org

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Smooth muscle myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) plays a crucial role in artery contraction, which regulates blood pressure and blood flow distribution. In addition to this role, MLCK contributes to Ca(2+) flux regulation in vascular smooth muscle (VSM) and in non-muscle cells, where cytoskeleton has been suggested to help Ca(2+) channels trafficking. This conclusion is based on the use of pharmacological inhibitors of MLCK and molecular and cellular techniques developed to down-regulate the enzyme. Dissimilarities have been observed between cells and whole tissues, as well as between large conductance and small resistance arteries. A differential expression in MLCK and ion channels (either voltage-dependent Ca(2+) channels or non-selective cationic channels) could account for these observations, and is in line with the functional properties of the arteries. A potential involvement of MLCK in the pathways modulating Ca(2+) entry in VSM is described in the present review.

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