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Trans fatty acids and atopic eczema/dermatitis syndrome: The relationship with a free radical cis-trans isomerization of membrane lipids

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Lipids

Abstract

The formation of trans FA residues in membrane phospholipids may be due to a free radical-catalyzed isomerization process occurring to the cis unsaturated FA moieties. Radical stress is well documented in inflammatory processes of atopic diseases, but no data are yet available about a possible association with trans FA detected in these patients. We investigated the presence of trans lipid isomers in the erythrocyte and T-lymphocyte membranes of 26 children affected by atopic eczema/dermatitis syndrome (AEDS). Trans lipid isomers were found in both cell membranes, up to a total content of 2.7 and 4.9% of the FA composition, respectively. By using the geometrical trans lipid library derived from in vitro models of thiyl radical-catalyzed isomerization, oleic and arachidonic acid isomers were detected. The statistical significance was evaluated by comparison with an age-matched control group. These results suggest the role of an endogenous free radical isomerization path occurring to membrane unsaturated lipids, complementary to the dietary contribution, which can be involved in the lipid impairment in AEDS. This study contributes to lipidomic research regarding the double bond structure and the influence of a geometrical change of membrane lipids in physiology and diseases.

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Abbreviations

AEDS:

atopic eczema/dermatitis syndrome

CD:

cluster of differentiation

DGLA:

dinomo-g-linolenic acid

MUFA:

monounsaturated FA

PBMC:

peripheral blood mononuclear cell

RAST:

RadioAllergoSorbent Test

SCORAD:

skin clinical score

SFA:

saturated FA

TCR:

T-cell receptor

TFA:

trans FA

Th:

T-helper

THP-1:

a human leukemia cell line

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Istituto per la Sintesi Organica e la Fotoreattività (ISOF), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via P. Gobetti 101, 40129, Bologna, Italy

    Carla Ferreri, Chryssostomos Chatgilialoglu & Sergio Dellonte

  2. Dipartimento di Pediatria, Policlinico Tor Vergata, Università di Roma “Tor Vergata”, 00133, Roma, Italy

    Federica Angelini, Viviana Moschese, Paolo Rossi & Loredana Chini

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  1. Carla Ferreri
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  2. Federica Angelini
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  3. Chryssostomos Chatgilialoglu
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  4. Sergio Dellonte
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  5. Viviana Moschese
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  6. Paolo Rossi
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  7. Loredana Chini
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Correspondence to Carla Ferreri.

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Ferreri, C., Angelini, F., Chatgilialoglu, C. et al. Trans fatty acids and atopic eczema/dermatitis syndrome: The relationship with a free radical cis-trans isomerization of membrane lipids. Lipids 40, 661–667 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-005-1428-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-005-1428-7

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