Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the world. Despite the screening programs, its incidence in the population below the 50s is increasing. Therefore, new ...stratification protocols based on multiparametric approaches are highly needed. In this scenario, the lipidome is emerging as a powerful tool to classify tumors, including CRC, wherein it has proven to be highly sensitive to cell malignization. Hence, the possibility to describe the lipidome at the level of lipid species has renewed the interest to investigate the role of specific lipid species in pathologic mechanisms, being commercial cell lines, a model still heavily used for this purpose. Herein, we characterize the membrane lipidome of five commercial colon cell lines and their extracellular vesicles (EVs). The results demonstrate that both cell and EVs lipidome was able to segregate cells according to their malignancy. Furthermore, all CRC lines shared a specific and strikingly homogenous impact on ether lipid species. Finally, this study also cautions about the need of being aware of the singularities of each cell line at the level of lipid species. Altogether, this study firmly lays the groundwork of using the lipidome as a solid source of tumor biomarkers.
Even though colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most preventable cancers, it is currently one of the deadliest. Worryingly, incidence in people <50 years has increased unexpectedly, and for unknown ...causes, despite the successful implementation of screening programs in the population aged >50 years. Thus, there is a need to improve early diagnosis detection strategies by identifying more precise biomarkers. In this scenario, the analysis of exosomes is given considerable attention. Previously, we demonstrated the exosome lipidome was able to classify CRC cell lines according to their malignancy. Herein, we investigated the use of the lipidome of plasma extracellular vesicles as a potential source of non-invasive biomarkers for CRC. A plasma exosome-enriched fraction was analyzed from patients undergoing colonoscopic procedure. Patients were divided into a healthy group and four pathological groups (patients with hyperplastic polyps; adenomatous polyps; invasive neoplasia (CRC patients); or hereditary non-polyposis CRC. The results showed a shift from 34:1- to 38:4-containing species in the pathological groups. We demonstrate that the ratio Σ34:1-containing species/Σ38:4-containing species has the potential to discriminate between healthy and pathological patients. Altogether, the results reinforce the utility of plasma exosome lipid fingerprint to provide new non-invasive biomarkers in a clinical context.
The use of oversampling in MALDI (matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization) imaging mass spectrometry (IMS) to improve lateral resolution is a common practice. However, its application is still ...controversial and recent studies reported a spot size–dependent change in the relative intensity of the spectra. Previously, using oversampling, we described the lipidome of the human colon epithelium, a 20–30 μm wide cell monolayer; even assessing the changes occurring within this monolayer associated with complex biological processes. Interestingly, the K-means analysis of those experiments unveiled the presence of a third epithelial cluster that anatomically matched the nuclei position. Taking into account the nucleus size (9–12 μm of diameter) and its distinctive lipidome, we decided to test whether this cluster was really of nuclear origin. Hence, the spectra obtained directly from tissue sections were compared with those recorded from the nuclei isolated from colon biopsies. The highest correlation coefficient was obtained when comparing the spectrum of the isolated nuclei with that of the tissue nuclear cluster, demonstrating the successful identification of the nuclear lipidome in the MALDI-IMS experiments run using oversampling and a lateral resolution of 10 μm/pixel. Importantly, it was established that phosphatidylinositol 38:4 nuclear levels remained stable along the colon crypt. That is, it mimicked neither the regular decrease observed in the epithelium nor the regular increase observed in the stroma, eliminating the chance of inter-pixel contamination. Altogether, besides confirming the usefulness of the oversampling technique, these results strongly reinforce the pivotal role IMS may have in promising fields such as single-cell analysis.
Graphical abstract
Human colon lipid analysis by imaging mass spectrometry (IMS) demonstrates that the lipid fingerprint is highly sensitive to a cell's pathophysiological state. Along the colon crypt axis, and ...concomitant to the differentiation process, certain lipid species tightly linked to signaling (phosphatidylinositols and arachidonic acid (AA)-containing diacylglycerophospholipids), change following a rather simple mathematical expression. We extend here our observations to ethanolamine plasmalogens (PlsEtn), a unique type of glycerophospholipid presenting a vinyl ether linkage at sn-1 position. PlsEtn distribution was studied in healthy, adenomatous, and carcinomatous colon mucosa sections by IMS. In epithelium, 75% of PlsEtn changed in a highly regular manner along the crypt axis, in clear contrast with diacyl species (67% of which remained constant). Consistently, AA-containing PlsEtn species were more abundant at the base, where stem cells reside, and decreased while ascending the crypt. In turn, mono−/diunsaturated species experienced the opposite change. These gradients were accompanied by a gradual expression of ether lipid synthesis enzymes. In lamina propria, 90% of stromal PlsEtn remained unchanged despite the high content of AA and the gradient in AA-containing diacylglycerophospholipids. Finally, both lipid and protein gradients were severely affected in polyps and carcinoma. These results link PlsEtn species regulation to cell differentiation for the first time and confirm that diacyl and ether species are differently regulated. Furthermore, they reaffirm the observations on cell lipid fingerprint image sensitivity to predict cell pathophysiological status, reinforcing the translational impact both lipidome and IMS might have in clinical research.
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•Lipidome accurately conveys the state of the cell.•Plasmalogen species are strictly regulated during colonocyte differentiation.•The gradient in epithelial plasmalogens along the crypt can be mathematically described.•Early dedifferentiation induces changes in epithelial but not in stromal plasmalogens.
Glioblastoma (GBM) represents one of the deadliest tumors owing to a lack of effective treatments. The adverse outcomes are worsened by high rates of treatment discontinuation, caused by the severe ...side effects of temozolomide (TMZ), the reference treatment. Therefore, understanding TMZ's effects on GBM and healthy brain tissue could reveal new approaches to address chemotherapy side effects. In this context, we have previously demonstrated the membrane lipidome is highly cell type-specific and very sensitive to pathophysiological states. However, little remains known as to how membrane lipids participate in GBM onset and progression. Hence, we employed an ex vivo model to assess the impact of TMZ treatment on healthy and GBM lipidome, which was established through imaging mass spectrometry techniques. This approach revealed that bioactive lipid metabolic hubs (phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylethanolamine plasmalogen species) were altered in healthy brain tissue treated with TMZ. To better understand these changes, we interrogated RNA expression and DNA methylation datasets of the Cancer Genome Atlas database. The results enabled GBM subtypes and patient survival to be linked with the expression of enzymes accounting for the observed lipidome, thus proving that exploring the lipid changes could reveal promising therapeutic approaches for GBM, and ways to ameliorate TMZ side effects.
Ins and Outs of Interpreting Lipidomic Results Bestard-Escalas, Joan; Maimó-Barceló, Albert; Pérez-Romero, Karim ...
Journal of molecular biology,
12/2019, Volume:
431, Issue:
24
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Membrane lipids are essential for life; however, research on how cells regulate cell lipid composition has been falling behind for quite some time. One reason was the difficulty in establishing ...analytical methods able to cope with the cell lipid repertoire. Development of a diversity of mass spectrometry-based technologies, including imaging mass spectrometry, has helped to demonstrate beyond doubt that the cell lipidome is not only greatly cell type dependent but also highly sensitive to any pathophysiological alteration such as differentiation or tumorigenesis. Interestingly, the current popularization of metabolomic studies among numerous disciplines has led many researchers to rediscover lipids. Hence, it is important to underscore the peculiarities of these metabolites and their metabolism, which are both radically different from protein and nucleic acid metabolism. Once differences in lipid composition have been established, researchers face a rather complex scenario, to investigate the signaling pathways and molecular mechanisms accounting for their results. Thus, a detail often overlooked, but of crucial relevance, is the complex networks of enzymes involved in controlling the level of each one of the lipid species present in the cell. In most cases, these enzymes are redundant and promiscuous, complicating any study on lipid metabolism, since the modification of one particular lipid enzyme impacts simultaneously on many species. Altogether, this review aims to describe the difficulties in delving into the regulatory mechanisms tailoring the lipidome at the activity, genetic, and epigenetic level, while conveying the numerous, stimulating, and sometimes unexpected research opportunities afforded by this type of studies.
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•Metabolomics and progress in Mass Spectrometry (MS) revived interest in Lipidomics.•Lipidome is highly sensitive to changes in the pathophysiological state of the cell.•Imaging MS (IMS) provides unique information on cell specific lipid distribution.•Each lipid species is regulated by the coordinated action of a myriad of enzymes.•Current IMS techniques provide solid lipid profiles at cell single level.
Background
5-Aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) has become an important assistant in glioblastoma (GB) surgery. Unfortunately, its price affects its widespread use.
Objective
The aim of this study was to ...compare commercial 5-ALA with the pharmacy-compounded solution.
Methods
Using first an in vitro experimental approach, different concentrations of the pharmacy-compounded solution and commercial 5-ALA were tested in U87MG, LN229, U373, and T98G commercial glioblastoma cell lines. Fluorescence intensity was compared for each concentration by flow cytometry. Mean fluorescence of culture supernatant and lysate samples were analyzed. In a second phase, both preparations were used for surgical glioblastoma resection and tumor samples were analyzed by confocal microscopy. Mean fluorescence intensity was analyzed for each preparation and compared.
Results
There was a high variability of fluorescence intensity between cell lines, but each cell line showed similar fluorescence for both preparations (compounded preparation and commercial 5-ALA). In the same way, both preparations had similar fluorescence intensity in glioblastoma samples.
Conclusion
Both, compounded and commercial 5-ALA preparations produce equivalent fluorescent responses in human glioblastoma cells. Fluorescence intensity is cell line specific, but fluorescent properties of both preparations are undistinguishable.
Even though colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most preventable cancers, it is one of the deadliest, and recent data show that the incidence in people <50 years has unexpectedly increased. While ...new techniques for CRC molecular classification are emerging, no molecular feature is as yet firmly associated with prognosis. Imaging mass spectrometry (IMS) lipidomic analyses have demonstrated the specificity of the lipid fingerprint in differentiating pathological from healthy tissues. During IMS lipidomic analysis, the formation of ionic adducts is common. Of particular interest is the Na
/K
adduct ratio, which already functions as a biomarker for homeostatic alterations. Herein, we show a drastic shift of the Na
/K
adduct ratio in adenomatous colon mucosa compared to healthy mucosa, suggesting a robust increase in K
levels. Interrogating public databases, a strong association was found between poor diagnosis and voltage-gated potassium channel subunit beta-2 (KCNAB2) overexpression. We found this overexpression in three CRC molecular subtypes defined by the CRC Subtyping Consortium, making KCNAB2 an interesting pharmacological target. Consistently, its pharmacological inhibition resulted in a dramatic halt in commercial CRC cell proliferation. Identification of potential pharmacologic targets using lipid adduct information emphasizes the great potential of IMS lipidomic techniques in the clinical field.
A novel flow-through microfluidic device based on a magneto-controlled graphene sensing platform was designed for homogeneous electronic monitoring of pyrophosphatase (PPase) activity; enzymatic ...hydrolysate-induced release of inorganic copper ion (Cu2+) from the Cu2+-coordinated pyrophosphate ions (Cu2+–PPi) complex was assessed to determine enzyme activity. Magnetic graphene nanosheets (MGNS) functionalized with negatively charged Nafion were synthesized by using the wet-chemistry method. The Cu2+–PPi complexes were prepared on the basis of the coordination reaction between copper ion and inorganic pyrophosphate ions. Upon target PPase introduction into the detection system, the analyte initially hydrolyzed pyrophosphate ions into phosphate ions and released the electroactive copper ions from Cu2+–PPi complexes. The released copper ions could be readily captured through the negatively charged Nafion on the magnetic graphene nanosheets, which could be quantitatively monitored by using the stripping voltammetry on the flow-through detection cell with an external magnet. Under optimal conditions, the obtained electrochemical signal exhibited a high dependence on PPase activity within a dynamic range from 0.1 to 20 mU mL–1 and allowed the detection at a concentration as low as 0.05 mU mL–1. Coefficients of variation for reproducibility of the intra-assay and interassay were below 7.6 and 9.8%, respectively. The inhibition efficiency of sodium fluoride (NaF) also received good results in pyrophosphatase inhibitor screening research. In addition, the methodology afforded good specificity and selectivity, simplification, and low cost without the need of sample separations and multiple washing steps, thus representing a user-friendly protocol for practical utilization in a quantitative PPase activity.
The mechanism of action of 2-hydroxyoleic acid (2OHOA), a potent antitumor drug, involves the rapid and specific activation of sphingomyelin synthase (SMS), leading to a 4-fold increase in SM mass in ...tumor cells. In the present study, we investigated the source of the ceramides required to sustain this dramatic increase in SM. Through radioactive and fluorescent labeling, we demonstrated that sphingolipid metabolism was altered by a 24 h exposure to 2OHOA, and we observed a consistent increase in the number of lysosomes and the presence of unidentified storage materials in treated cells. Mass spectroscopy revealed that different sphingolipid classes accumulated in human glioma U118 cells after exposure to 2OHOA, demonstrating a specific effect on C16-, C20-, and C22-containing sphingolipids. Based on these findings, we propose that the demand for ceramides required to sustain the SMS activation (ca. 200-fold higher than the basal level) profoundly modifies both sphingolipid and phospholipid metabolism. As the treatment is prolonged, tumor cells fail to adequately metabolize sphingolipids, leading to a situation resembling sphingolipidosis, whereby cell viability is compromised.
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