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The fatty acid composition of human gliomas differs from that found in nonmalignant brain tissue

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Lipids

Abstract

To compare the fatty acid composition of tumor tissue from glioma patients with that of normal brain tissue, tissue samples were obtained from 13 glioma patients and from 3 nonmalignant patients. Following lipid extraction, total fatty acid composition was measured using gas-liquid chromatography. Samples were further separated into phospholipids and neutral lipids. Representative samples were then separated into phospholipid classes by thin-layer chromatography and the fatty acid composition assayed. Levels of the polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), were significantly reduced (P=0.029) in the glioma samples compared with normal brain samples; mean values were 4.8±2.9% and 9.2±1.0%, respectively. This reduction in glioma DHA content was also observed in terms of phospholipids (4.6±2.1% vs. 9.6±0.8%,P=0.002). The phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylethanolamine phospholipid classes were reduced in the glioma samples. Differences were also noted in the n-6 PUFA content between glioma and normal brain samples. The glioma content of the n-6 PUFA linoleic acid was significantly greater (P<0.05) than that observed in the control samples in terms of total lipids. Thus, the fatty acid composition of human gliomas differs from that found in nonmalignant brain tissue.

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Abbreviations

ALA:

α-linolenic acid

CNS:

central nervous system

DHA:

docosahexaenoic acid

GBM:

glioblastoma multiforme

GLC:

gas-liquid chromatography

LA:

linoleic acid

PC:

phosphatidylcholine

PE:

phosphatidylethanolamine

PI:

phosphatidylinositol

PS:

phosphatidylserine

PUFA:

polyunsaturated fatty acid

UI:

unsaturation index

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Author notes

  1. Douglas D. Martin

    Present address: Radiation Oncology, Naval Medical Center, 620 John Paul JOnes Circle, 23708-2197, Portsmouth, VA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Radiation Oncology, Department of Radiology, The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, 52242, Iowa City, Iowa

    Douglas D. Martin, Michael E. C. Robbins, B.-Chen Wen & David H. Hussey

  2. Division of Radiation Oncology, Department of Biochemistry, The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, 52242, Iowa City, Iowa

    Arthur A. Spector

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Martin, D.D., Robbins, M.E.C., Spector, A.A. et al. The fatty acid composition of human gliomas differs from that found in nonmalignant brain tissue. Lipids 31, 1283–1288 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02587914

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02587914

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