Long-chain acyl-coenzyme A (CoA) synthase 4 (ACSL4) is an enzyme that esterifies CoA into specific polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as arachidonic acid and adrenic acid. Based on accumulated evidence, the ACSL4-catalyzed biosynthesis of arachidonoyl-CoA contributes to the execution of ferroptosis by triggering phospholipid peroxidation. Ferroptosis is a type of programmed cell death caused by iron-dependent peroxidation of lipids; ACSL4 and glutathione peroxidase 4 positively and negatively regulate ferroptosis, respectively. In addition, ACSL4 is an essential regulator of fatty acid (FA) metabolism. ACSL4 remodels the phospholipid composition of cell membranes, regulates steroidogenesis, and balances eicosanoid biosynthesis. In addition, ACSL4-mediated metabolic reprogramming and antitumor immunity have attracted much attention in cancer biology. Because it facilitates the cross-talk between ferroptosis and FA metabolism, ACSL4 is also a research hotspot in metabolic diseases and ischemia/reperfusion injuries. In this review, we focus on the structure, biological function, and unique role of ASCL4 in various human diseases. Finally, we propose that ACSL4 might be a potential therapeutic target.
Humans ; Ferroptosis ; Apoptosis ; Phospholipids/metabolism* ; Nitric Oxide Synthase

Exosomes are phospholipid bilayer membrane-enclosed vesicles released from cells with diameters of 30-150 nm, exosomes can directly reflect the physiological and functional state of secretory cells, participate in material transport and information communication between cells, which are of great significance as biomarkers for early tumor diagnosis and treatment evaluation. There are many detection methods for exosomes, among which aptasensor technology with the properties of low price and easy operation, fast response, high sensitivity, remarkable specificity helps tumor patients to find, diagnose and treat early, improve the survival rate, and provide important basis for the evaluation of the prognosis. There are seven types of common aptasensors: fluorescent, electrochemical, colorimetric, luminescence, lateral flow strips, surface-enhanced Raman scattering and surface plasmon resonance sensors. Different aptasensors have different characteristics, this article focuses on the research progress of several common aptasensor for tumor exosomes detection.
Humans ; Exosomes/metabolism* ; Biomarkers/analysis* ; Neoplasms/diagnosis* ; Phospholipids/metabolism* ; Biosensing Techniques/methods*

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Consumption of cholesterol-rich foods, such as eggs, has a minimal effect on circulating cholesterol levels in healthy humans. To gain insight, we investigated whether phospholipids rich in eggs (EPL) interfere with intestinal cholesterol absorption in vivo. MATERIALS/METHODS: To investigate the acute effect of EPL on intestinal cholesterol absorption, male C57BL/6J mice were orally administered with 6, 11, or 19 mg of EPL for three days. We also tested the effect of chronic EPL consumption on cholesterol metabolism in the small intestine and the liver in mice with diet-induced hypercholesterolemia. Male C57BL/6J mice were fed a high fat/high cholesterol (HF/HC; 35% fat, 0.25% cholesterol, w/w) diet for 4 weeks to induce hypercholesterolemia, and subsequently the mice were either fed 0, 0.4 or 0.8% (w/w) of EPL for 6 weeks. RESULTS: Intestinal cholesterol absorption was significantly decreased by the highest dose of acute EPL administration compared to control. Chronic EPL supplementation did not significantly alter intestinal cholesterol absorption nor plasma levels of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. In the small intestine and the liver, EPL supplementation minimally altered the expression of genes which regulate cellular cholesterol levels. CONCLUSION: Although chronic EPL consumption was not able to counteract hypercholesterolemia in HF/HC-fed mice, acute EPL administration decreased intestinal cholesterol absorption. This study provides in vivo evidence that acute administration of PLs in eggs prevent cholesterol absorption in the intestine, suggesting a mechanism for a minimal effect of egg consumption on circulating cholesterol levels.
Absorption ; Animals ; Cholesterol ; Diet ; Eggs ; Humans ; Hypercholesterolemia ; Intestinal Absorption ; Intestine, Small ; Intestines ; Lipoproteins ; Liver ; Male ; Metabolism ; Mice ; Ovum ; Phosphatidylcholines ; Phospholipids ; Plasma

Background: Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) was strongly expressed and activated in psoriatic keratinocytes (KCs) and correlated with the severity of psoriasis. The study aimed to investigate the effects of STAT3 small interfering RNA (siRNA) combined with ultrasonic irradiation and SonoVue microbubbles on the proliferation and apoptosis in KCs of psoriatic lesions and the relative mechanisms. Methods: Psoriatic KCs were transfected under four experimental conditions: (1) STAT3 siRNA carried by Lipofectamine 3000 combined with ultrasonic irradiation and SonoVue microbubbles (LUS group); (2) STAT3 siRNA only carried by Lipofectamine 3000 (L group); (3) the negative control of siRNA carried by Lipofectamine 3000 combined with ultrasonic irradiation and SonoVue microbubbles (siRNA-NC); (4) not treated as Blank. Cell Counting Kit-8 assay was used to evaluate the cell proliferation. Cell cycle analysis was detected with cycle test Plus DNA reagent kit associated with flow cytometer. FITC Annexin V apoptosis detection kit associated with flow cytometer was applied for apoptosis analysis. Fluo calcium indicator associated with flow cytometer was used to analyze intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca]). The expressions of cyclin D1 and Bcl-xL were detected both at the mRNA level by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and at the protein level by Western blotting. The obtained data were statistically evaluated by two-way analysis of variance. Results: STAT3 siRNA inhibited the growth of KCs in a time-dependent manner showing the highest proliferation inhibition in LUS group with proliferation ratio of 45.38% ± 5.85% at 72h (P < 0.05 vs. L group, siRNA-NC, or Blank). STAT3 siRNA induced an altered cell cycle distribution of KCs showing the highest increases in G2/M-phase population up to 18.06% ± 0.36% in LUS group (P < 0.05 vs. L group, siRNA-NC, or Blank). STAT3 siRNA induced late apoptosis of KCs with the highest late apoptosis percentage of 22.87% ± 1.28% in LUS group (P < 0.05 vs. L group, siRNA-NC, or Blank). STAT3 siRNA induced the elevation of [Ca]of KCs with the highest calcium fluorescence intensity mean of 1213.67 ± 60.51 in LUS group (P < 0.05 vs. L group, siRNA-NC, or Blank). STAT3 siRNA induced the downregulation of cyclin D1 and Bcl-xL expressions of KCs at mRNA and protein levels with the lowest expressions in LUS group with cyclin D1 expression of 51.81% ± 9.58% and 70.17% ± 4.22% at mRNA level and at protein level, respectively, and with Bcl-xL expression of 37.58% ± 4.92% and 64.06% ± 7.78% at mRNA level and at protein level, respectively (P < 0.05 vs. L group, siRNA-NC, or Blank). Conclusions STAT3 siRNA inhibited the growth and induced the apoptosis in psoriatic KCs likely partly through altering cell cycle distribution, elevating [Ca], and downregulating cyclin D1 and Bcl-xL expressions. Silencing the target gene STAT3 in psoriatic KCs with siRNA combined with ultrasonic irradiation and microbubbles would contribute to a significant innovation as a new clinical therapy for psoriasis.
Apoptosis ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Humans ; Keratinocytes ; Microbubbles ; Phospholipids ; Psoriasis ; therapy ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Small Interfering ; STAT3 Transcription Factor ; metabolism ; Sulfur Hexafluoride ; Ultrasonics

To explore the effect of long-time propofol infusion on myocardial enzymes, mitochondrial cytochrome C and ATP in rabbits. 
 Methods: A total of 18 New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into 3 groups: a control group, a propofol group and an intralipid group. The rabbits were continuously infused with 0.9% normal saline in the control group, 1% propofol in the propofol group, and 10% intralipid in the intralipid group, respectivey. The arterial blood was collected at 0, 8, 16 h and the end of experiment to examine creatine kinase (CK) and creatine kinase isoenzyme (CK-MB). In the end, the myocardial mitochondria from myocardial tissues was separated by differential centrifugation, and mitochondrial cytochrome C content and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels were examined by high performance liquid chromatography.
 Results: Compared with the control group, the release of cytochrome C from mitochondria were increased in the propofol group and the intralipid group (both P<0.05), but there was no significant difference between them (P>0.05). There was also no significant difference in the ATP content of the mitochondria among the 3 groups (P>0.05). The levels of CK were increased at 8, 16 and 24 h after infusion in the propofol group and the intralipid group compared with that before the infusion (all P<0.05); compared with the control group, the levels of CK were increased at 8, 16 and 24 h after infusion in the propofol group and the intralipid group (all P<0.05); compared with the intralipid group, the levels of CK were increased at 8, 16 and 24 h after infusion in the propofol group (all P>0.05); compared with the control group, the levels of CK-MB were obviously increased in the infusion of propofol for 24 h in the propofol group (P<0.05).
 Conclusion: The levels of serum CK increase after the infusion of propofol and intralipid for a long time, and the levels of CK-MB also elevate in the infusion of propofol. Propofol and intralipid can increase the release of myocardial mitochondrial cytochrome C, but they don't affect the ATP production in myocardial mitochondrial.
Adenosine Triphosphate ; metabolism ; Animals ; Creatine Kinase ; blood ; metabolism ; Creatine Kinase, MB Form ; blood ; metabolism ; Cytochromes c ; metabolism ; Emulsions ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Infusions, Intravenous ; Mitochondria ; drug effects ; Myocardium ; chemistry ; enzymology ; Phospholipids ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Polyphosphates ; Propofol ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Rabbits ; Soybean Oil ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology

The relationship of nutrients and microorganisms in soils with polyphenols and total flavonoids of Houttuynia cordata were investigated by measuring nutrients, enzyme activity, pH, concentrations of microbe phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) in soils, and determining concentrations of polyphenols and total flavonoids of H. cordata. The research is aimed to understand characteristics of the planting soils and improve the quality of cultivated H. cordata. The soils at different sample sites varied greatly in nutrients, enzyme activity, pH, microbic PLFAs and polyphenols and all flavonoids. The content of total PLFAs in sample sites was following: bacteria > fungi > actinomyces > nematode. The content of bacteria PLFAs was 37.5%-65.0% at different sample sites. Activities of polyphenol oxidease, concentrations of available P and content of PLFAs of bacteria, actinomyces and total microorganisms in soils were significantly and positively related to the concentrations of polyphenols and total flavonoids of H. cordata, respectively (P < 0.05) . The Content of fungi PLFAs in soils was significantly and negatively related to concentrations of polyphenols and total flavonoids of H. cordata, respectively (P < 0.05). This study provides evidence that effectiveness of the soil nutrient, which may be improved due to transformation of soil microorganisms and enzymes to N and P in the soils, was beneficial to adaptation of H. cordata adapted to different soil conditions, and significantly affects metabolic accumulation of polyphenols and flavonoids of H. cordata.
Bacteria ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; metabolism ; Fatty Acids ; metabolism ; Flavonoids ; analysis ; metabolism ; Fungi ; metabolism ; Houttuynia ; chemistry ; metabolism ; microbiology ; Phospholipids ; metabolism ; Polyphenols ; analysis ; metabolism ; Soil ; chemistry ; Soil Microbiology

OBJECTIVE: To measure retinol binding protein 4 (RBP4) levels in serum and bile and to analyze their relationship with insulin resistance, dyslipidemia or cholesterol saturation index (CSI).
 METHODS: A total of 60 patients with gallstone were divided into a diabetes group (n=30) and a control group (n=30). The concentrations of RBP4 in serum and bile were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Enzyme colorimetric method was used to measure the concentration of biliary cholesterol, bile acid and phospholipid. Biliary CSI was calculated by Carey table. Partial correlation and multiple linear regression analysis were used to evaluate the correlation between the RBP4 levels in serum or bile and the above indexes.
 RESULTS: The RBP4 concentrations in serum and bile in the diabetes group were significantly elevated compared with those in the control group (both P<0.01). There was no significant difference in the serum total bile acid (TBA), serum triglyceride (TG), serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL), bile TBA, bile total cholesterol (TC) , bile phospholipids and bile CSI between the 2 groups (all P>0.05); but the serum TC, low density lipoprotein (LDL), fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting insulin (FINS), and homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) in the diabetes group were significantly increased compared to those in the control group (all P<0.05). The partial correlation analysis, which was adjusted by age, showed that the bile RBP4 was positively correlated with body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), FINS, FBG, TC, LDL and HOMA-IR (r=0.283, 0.405, 0.685, 0.667, 0.553, 0.424 and 0.735, respectively), and the serum RBP4 was also positively correlated with the WC, FINS, FBG, TC, LDL and HOMA-IR (r=0.317, 0.734, 0.609, 0.528, 0.386 and 0.751, respectively). Stepwise multivariate linear regression analysis suggested that the HOMA-IR, BMI and WC were independently correlated with the level of bile RBP4 (multiple regression equation: Ybile RBP4=2.372XHOMA-IR+0.420XBMI+0.178XWC-26.813), and the serum RBP4 level was correlated with the HOMA-IR and WC independently (multiple regression equation: Yserum RBP4=2.832XHOMA-IR +0.235XWC-20.128). Multiple regression equations showed that HOMA-IR was the strongest correlation factor with RBP4.
 CONCLUSION RBP4 concentrations in serum and bile in the diabetes group are significantly higher than those in the control group. HOMA-IR, BMI and WC are independently correlated with the level of bile RBP4. HOMA-IR and WC are independently correlated with the serum RBP4 level. HOMA-IR is the strongest correlation factor with RBP4. RBP4 might play an important role in the course of gallstone formation in Type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Bile ; chemistry ; Bile Acids and Salts ; blood ; Blood Glucose ; chemistry ; Body Mass Index ; Cholesterol ; chemistry ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; complications ; metabolism ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Gallstones ; complications ; Humans ; Insulin ; blood ; Insulin Resistance ; Lipoproteins, HDL ; blood ; Lipoproteins, LDL ; blood ; Phospholipids ; chemistry ; Retinol-Binding Proteins, Plasma ; metabolism ; Triglycerides ; blood ; Waist Circumference

To prepare salvianolic acid phospholipid compound. With the compound of salvianolic acids and soybean phospholipid as the index, mono-factor experiment and orthogonal design experiment were conducted to screen its technical parameters. According to the results, the optimal preparation conditions of salvianolic acid phospholipid compound were that THF were taken as the reaction solvent, the concentration time was 3 h, the reactant concentration was 5 g x L(-1), the mass ratio of salvianolic acids and phospholipid was 1: 1.5, and the reaction temperature was 40 degrees C. The oil/water partition coefficient of the prepared salvianolic acid phospholipid compound significant increased in water and buffers with different pH values. The results of phase analysis such as DSC, XRD and FTIR indicated that salvianolic acids existed in phospholipid in an amorphous state.
Alkenes ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Chemical Phenomena ; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; methods ; Intestinal Absorption ; Phospholipids ; chemistry ; Polyphenols ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Soybeans ; chemistry ; Temperature

OBJECTIVE: To construct protein functional network according to the physiological process in vivo and functionally based distinct families, to understand biological functions, and to make wise decisions. METHODS: We described here a very effective strategy combining with multiple-docking and protein-ligand binding-affinity fingerprint method to generate bio-functional network and pathway and reveal the protein "unknown" functions and their relationship. RESULTS: Totally 27 sets of proteins and 28 bio-active molecules were used to reconstruct the possible phospholipids metabolic network by computational simulation strategy. The protein-ligand network reconstruction and pathway based drug design showed that the direct interaction investigation might be effective in complex biological system study. CONCLUSION Even for weak and moderate interactions in the real biology system, the relationship between each other can be achieved by fingerprint analysis based on multiple-docking data. The results of these calculations give valuable insight into the pathway and the function relationship among these proteins. This method can be a very useful tool for protein classification, target selection, and inhibitor design.
Ligands ; Molecular Docking Simulation ; Phospholipids ; metabolism ; Proteins ; chemistry

Polyamines, putrescine, spermidine and spermine, are ubiquitous in living cells and are essential for eukaryotic cell growth. These polycations interact with negatively charged molecules such as DNA, RNA, acidic proteins and phospholipids and modulate various cellular functions including macromolecular synthesis. Dysregulation of the polyamine pathway leads to pathological conditions including cancer, inflammation, stroke, renal failure and diabetes. Increase in polyamines and polyamine synthesis enzymes is often associated with tumor growth, and urinary and plasma contents of polyamines and their metabolites have been investigated as diagnostic markers for cancers. Of these, diacetylated derivatives of spermidine and spermine are elevated in the urine of cancer patients and present potential markers for early detection. Enhanced catabolism of cellular polyamines by polyamine oxidases (PAO), spermine oxidase (SMO) or acetylpolyamine oxidase (AcPAO), increases cellular oxidative stress and generates hydrogen peroxide and a reactive toxic metabolite, acrolein, which covalently incorporates into lysine residues of cellular proteins. Levels of protein-conjuagated acrolein (PC-Acro) and polyamine oxidizing enzymes were increased in the locus of brain infarction and in plasma in a mouse model of stroke and also in the plasma of stroke patients. When the combined measurements of PC-Acro, interleukin 6 (IL-6), and C-reactive protein (CRP) were evaluated, even silent brain infarction (SBI) was detected with high sensitivity and specificity. Considering that there are no reliable biochemical markers for early stage of stroke, PC-Acro and PAOs present promising markers. Thus the polyamine metabolites in plasma or urine provide useful tools in early diagnosis of cancer and stroke.
Acrolein ; Animals ; Biomarkers ; Brain Infarction ; C-Reactive Protein ; Diacetyl ; DNA ; Early Detection of Cancer ; Eukaryotic Cells ; Humans* ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-6 ; Lysine ; Metabolism ; Mice ; Oxidative Stress ; Oxidoreductases ; Phospholipids ; Plasma ; Polyamines* ; Putrescine ; Renal Insufficiency ; RNA ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Spermidine ; Spermine ; Stroke