Modification of the fatty acid composition of the erythrocyte membrane in patients with chronic respiratory diseases

Abstract

BackgroundEarly preclinical diagnosis of COPD is urgent. We proposed that fatty acid composition of red blood cells may serve as a prognostic test for the complications in the chronic respiratory diseases. Fatty acid composition of the erythrocyte membranes in patients with chronic respiratory diseases (chronic bronchitis, CB, and stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, COPD) was studied. It was established that modification of the fatty acid composition in the erythrocyte membranes was unidirectional in both groups of patients.MethodsPatients with CB and stable COPD (group A, GOLD 1) (15 subjects in each group) were studied in clinic. The activity of the inflammatory process was evaluated by the phagocytic activity of neutrophils, cytokine levels and cytokine receptors in the blood serum (TNFα, sTNF-RI, bFGF, TGF-β, IL-8). Fatty acid (FA) composition of the erythrocyte membranes was analyzed by gas liquid chromatography. Statistical data processing was performed by the methods of descriptive statistics with Statistica 6.0.ResultsIn both groups (CB and COPD), a significant accumulation of the saturated FAs (14:0, 15:0, 18:0) was established. The amount of the arachidonic acid (20:4n-6) was increased by 13% (р < 0.05) in CB patients and by 41% (р < 0.001) in COPD patients, as compared with healthy persons. The elevated level of the PUFA n-6 in the erythrocytes membranes in patients with chronic respiratory diseases confirms that proinflammatory (leukotriene B4) and bronchospasm (prostaglandin D2) mediator substrates is increased. The level of the eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5n-3) was decreased by 32% (р < 0.05) in CB patients and 2-fold (р < 0.001) in COPD patients. The observed increase in the 20:4n-6/20:5n-3 ratio - 1.5-fold (р < 0.001) in CB patients and 3-fold in COPD patients - can be a specific marker of the adverse course of the respiratory pathology and the chronic inflammatory development.ConclusionsChronic respiratory disease development is associated with the disturbance of the fatty acid composition in erythrocyte membranes and disbalance of the ratio between precursor of pro- and antiinflammatory eicosanoids.

Dietary fibre and fatty acids in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease risk and progression: a systematic review

“…Few studies have used this approach to correlate fatty acid profiles in the body with lung function or COPD outcome parameters. A case–control study reported a three times higher arachidonic acid (C20:4 n‐6) to EPA (C20:5 n‐3) ratio in erythrocyte membranes in COPD patients compared with healthy subjects . In the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study, plasma fatty acids were measured in a subset of the population of which DHA, but not EPA, was correlated with higher FEV 1 /FVC ratios and lower COPD risk in smokers .…”

Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors as a Therapeutic Target in Asthma

“…Along with immune imbalance, disorders in the fatty acid composition of cell membranes and the synthesis of lipid mediators involved in the resolution of inflammation also promote chronic inflammation in the bronchopulmonary system [24,25]. The functions of immune cells (secretion, chemotaxis, and microorganism sensitivity) depend on the state of the lipid structure of the cell membrane [26].…”

“…The violation of the FA composition of cell membranes and the imbalance between substrates for the synthesis of pro-and anti-inflammatory mediators are two of the major factors for promoting the development and aggravation of chronic respiratory diseases, including asthma [24,25]. 6.1.3.…”

Association of fatty acid metabolism with systemic inflammatory response in chronic respiratory diseases

“…Хроническое воспаление дыхательных путей регулируется сложной сетью медиаторов, ключевую роль среди которых отводится метаболитам полиненасыщенных жирных кислот (ПНЖК) -эйкозаноидам (лейкотриены, простагландины, тромбоксаны) и проразрешающим медиаторам (резолвины, протектины, маресины, липоксины), модулирующим иммунный ответ через хемотаксические, аутокринные либо паракринные эффекты [2,3]. Изучение модификации состава и соотношения жирных кислот (ЖК) цитомембран позволяет выявлять нарушения в цикле эйкозаноидов и прорезолвинов поскольку источником эйкозаноидов и проразрешающих медиаторов являются ПНЖК мембранных фосфолипидов [4]. Синтез жирных кислот происходит с участием ферментов -десатураз и элонгаз, являющихся общими для представителей различных семейств ЖК, что обуславливает конкурентное взаимоотношение между длинноцепочечными жирными кислотами.…”