Plasmalogens, 1-O-alk-1′-enyl-2-acyl-sn-glycerophospholipids, are significant constituents of cellular membranes and are essential for normal brain development. Plasmalogens, which contain a vinyl ether bond at the sn-1 position, are preferential targets for hypochlorous acid (HOCl), generated by myeloperoxidase (MPO) from H 2 O 2 and chloride ions. Because MPO is implicated in neurodegeneration, this study pursued two aims: (i) to investigate the reactivity of mouse brain plasmalogens toward HOCl in vitro and (ii) to obtain in vivo evidence for MPO-mediated brain plasmalogen modification. Liquid chromatography coupled to hybrid linear ion trap-Fourier transform-ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry revealed plasmalogen modification in mouse brain lipid extracts at lower HOCl concentrations as observed for diacylphospholipids, resulting in the generation of 2-chloro fatty aldehydes and lysophospholipids. Lysophosphatidylethanolamine accumulation was transient, whereas lysophosphatidylcholine species containing saturated acyl residues remained stable. In vivo, a single, systemic endotoxin injection resulted in upregulation of cerebral MPO mRNA levels to a range comparable to that observed for tumor necrosis factor-α and cyclooxygenase-2. This inflammatory response was accompanied by a significant decrease in several brain plasmalogen species and concomitant in vivo generation of 2-chlorohexadecanal. The present findings demonstrate that activation of the MPO-H 2 O 2 -chloride system under neuroinflammatory conditions results in oxidative attack of the total cerebral plasmalogen pool. As this lipid class is indispensable for normal neuronal function, HOCl-mediated plasmalogen modification is likely to compromise normal synaptic transmission.© 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. * Corresponding author. Fax: +43 316 380 9615. wolfgang.sattler@medunigraz.at. The mammalian brain is particularly sensitive toward oxidative damage, a result of the high oxygen demand and the high content of unsaturated lipids in the central nervous system (CNS) [1]. Potential sources of reactive species in the brain are mitochondria, amyloid-β peptides, redox-active iron, the NADPH-oxidase complex, and myeloperoxidase (MPO) [1][2][3]. MPO, a member of the heme peroxidase family, is present in the azurophilic granules of phagocytes, and H 2 O 2 -dependent oxidation of chloride ions to the powerful oxidant hypochlorous acid/hypochlorite (HOCl/OCl − ) is catalyzed by MPO. Under physiological conditions MPO-generated oxidants play an important role in killing invading pathogens, thereby contributing to host defense [3]. However, chronic activation of MPO results in elevated levels of reactive species, favoring chloramine formation, a modification potentially leading to tissue and/or organ injury [4][5][6][7][8]. Increasing evidence points toward MPO as a disease-amplifying enzyme in neurodegeneration [2]. In multiple sclerosis, MPO is present in microglia/macrophages at lesion sites [9,10] and cortical demyelination is associa...

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2-Chlorohexadecanal (2-ClHDA), a chlorinated fatty aldehyde, is formed via attack on ether-phospholipids by hypochlorous acid (HOCl) that is generated by the myeloperoxidase–hydrogen peroxide–chloride system of activated leukocytes. 2-ClHDA levels are elevated in atherosclerotic lesions, myocardial infarction, and neuroinflammation. Neuroinflammatory conditions are accompanied by accumulation of neutrophils (an ample source of myeloperoxidase) in the brain. Microvessel damage by inflammatory mediators and/or reactive oxidants can induce blood–brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction, a pathological condition leading to cerebral edema, brain hemorrhage, and neuronal death. In this in vitro study we investigated the impact of 2-ClHDA on brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMVEC), which constitute the morphological basis of the BBB. We show that exogenously added 2-ClHDA is subject to rapid uptake and metabolism by BMVEC. Using C16 structural analogues of 2-ClHDA we found that the cytotoxic potential decreases in the following order: 2-ClHDA>hexadecanal>palmitic acid>2-ClHDA-dimethylacetal. 2-ClHDA induces loss of barrier function, mitochondrial dysfunction, apoptosis via activation of caspase 3, and altered intracellular redox balance. Finally we investigated potential protective effects of several natural polyphenols on in vitro BBB function. Of the compounds tested, phloretin almost completely abrogated 2-ClHDA-induced BMVEC barrier dysfunction and cell death. These data suggest that 2-ClHDA has the potential to induce BBB breakdown under inflammatory conditions and that phloretin confers protection in this experimental setting.

The clinical effects of thyroid hormones on bone in hypo- and hyperthyroidism are well known but their fundamental role in the regulation of bone remodeling is still poorly understood. In this review the current literature is summarized and experimental data from our laboratory are presented. The direct stimulation of bone resorption by thyroid hormones in organ culture, which in part is mediated by prostaglandins and TGF-beta, and the effect of different agents thereon are reviewed. More recent data concerning thyroid hormone action in the osteoblastic cell line MC3T3E1, are summarized. From their effect on proliferation and alkaline phosphatase activity, we conclude that thyroid hormones accelerate osteoblastic differentiation. The regulation of the transcriptional expression of certain genes by nuclear T3 receptors and their effect on osteoblastic target genes like IGF-I are reviewed. In addition a novel role of triiodothyronine as inhibitor of growth factor induced transcriptional expression of regulatory genes (c-fos, c-jun) is suggested.

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