Nuclear Phosphatidylcholine and Sphingomyelin Metabolism of Thyroid Cells Changes during Stratospheric Balloon Flight

Nuclear sphingomyelin and phosphatidylcholine metabolism is involved in the response to ultraviolet radiation treatment in different ways related to the physiological state of cells. To evaluate the effects of low levels of radiation from the stratosphere on thyroid cells, proliferating and quiescent FRTL-5 cells were flown in a stratospheric balloon (BIRBA mission). After recovery, the activity of neutral sphingomyelinase, phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C, sphingomyelin synthase, and reverse sphingomyelin synthase was assayed in purified nuclei and the nuclei-free fraction. In proliferating FRTL-5, space radiation stimulate nuclear neutral sphingomyelinase and reverse sphingomyelin synthase activity, whereas phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C and sphingomyelin synthase were inhibited, thus inducing sphingomyelin degradation and phosphatidylcholine synthesis. This effect was lower in quiescent cells. The possible role of nuclear lipid metabolism in the thyroid damage induced by space radiations is discussed

Nuclear Lipids in the Nervous System: What they do in Health and Disease

In the last 20 years it has been widely demonstrated that cell nucleus contains neutral and polar lipids localized in nuclear membranes, nucleoli, nuclear matrix and chromatin. Nuclear lipids may show specific organization forming nuclear lipid microdomains and have both structural and functional roles. Depending on their localization, nuclear lipids play different roles such as the regulation of nuclear membrane and nuclear matrix fluidity but they also can act as platforms for vitamin and hormone function, for active chromatin anchoring, and for the regulation of gene expression, DNA duplication and transcription. Crosstalk among different kinds of lipid signalling pathways influence the physiopathology of numerous cell types. In neural cells the nuclear lipids are involved in cell proliferation, differentiation, inflammation, migration and apoptosis. Abnormal metabolism of nuclear lipids might be closely associated with tumorigenesis and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer disease and Parkinson disease among others

iga anticardiolipin in patients with gastroenteric tumor

Recently the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies in patients with cancer has been demonstrated, suggesting an involvement of autoimmune response in neoplastic conditions. The presence of antiphospholipid antibodies in tumor disease is highly correlated with the risk of developing thrombotic complications, which represents a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in cancer patients. Interestingly, it has been highlighted that high levels of IgM and IgG anticardiolipin antibodies are more often produced in patients with gastroenteric tumor than in patients with either ovarian or breast tumor. Thus far, there are no data looking into the role or measurements of IgA in patients with solid cancer. Our preliminary results, in this study, demonstrate that testing only for IgG and IgM anticardiolipin antibodies may increase the incidence of false positive because 44% who were IgA positive and IgG and IgM negative had high titres of CA19.9 and CEA. We suggest that taking into account the role of IgA could substantially improve the detection of antiphospholipids antibodies in subjects with solid cancer, and this detection may allow us for better prevention and management of thrombotic complications in these patients

Radiation and Thyroid Cancer

Radiation-induced damage is a complex network of interlinked signaling pathways, which may result in apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, DNA repair, and cancer. The development of thyroid cancer in response to radiation, from nuclear catastrophes to chemotherapy, has long been an object of study. A basic overview of the ionizing and non-ionizing radiation effects of the sensitivity of the thyroid gland on radiation and cancer development has been provided. In this review, we focus our attention on experiments in cell cultures exposed to ionizing radiation, ultraviolet light, and proton beams. Studies on the involvement of specific genes, proteins, and lipids are also reported. This review also describes how lipids are regulated in response to the radiation-induced damage and how they are involved in thyroid cancer etiology, invasion, and migration and how they can be used as both diagnostic markers and drug targets

Vitamin D3 as possible diagnostic marker of Eating Disorders

Abstract Purpose Eating Disorders (EDs) refer to a group of psychiatric conditions in which disorderly food intake results in impaired psychological functioning or physical health. Nowadays, these disorders represent an increasing problem in modern society. There are no universally validated clinical parameters to confirm, disprove or simply help to identify EDs except for diagnostic criteria on psychiatric basis. The aim of this study was the assessment of Vitamin D3 level in patients with EDs to understand if it might be a valid clinical biochemistry parameter useful as prognostic marker. Methods The sample consists of 28 female patients, who suffer from EDs. Blood samples were examined in terms of blood count, glucose, cholesterol and Vitamin D3 levels. The other clinical biochemistry parameters were analysed to understand if the Vitamin D3 was the only altered parameter. Results The parameters that appear altered are glycemia, cholesterol and, in particular, Vitamin D3. Significant results were obtained comparing controls with restrictive-type anorexia nervosa (p value= 0,003) and with purging-type anorexia nervosa (p value= 0,007). Conclusion There are currently no universally validated and diagnostic reliable clinical biochemistry parameters for EDs but, in the light of the findings, but our research indicates the potential use of Vitamin D3 as a biomarker for anorexia nervosa. Level of evidence Level III: Evidence obtained from a single-center cohort study

Mouse thyroid gland changes in aging: Implication of galectin-3 and sphingomyelinase

Prevalence of thyroid dysfunction and its impact on cognition in older people has been demonstrated, but many points remain unclarified. In order to study the effect of aging on the thyroid gland, we compared the thyroid gland of very old mice with that of younger ones. We have first investigated the changes of thyroid microstructure and the possibility that molecules involved in thyroid function might be associated with structural changes. Results from this study indicate changes in the height of the thyrocytes and in the amplitude of interfollicular spaces, anomalous expression/localization of thyrotropin, thyrotropin receptor, and thyroglobulin aging. Thyrotropin and thyrotropin receptor are upregulated and are distributed inside the colloid while thyroglobulin fills the interfollicular spaces. In an approach aimed at defining the behavior of molecules that change in different physiopathological conditions of thyroid, such as galectin-3 and sphingomyelinase, we then wondered what was their behavior in the thyroid gland in aging. Importantly, in comparison with the thyroid of young animals, we have found a higher expression of galectin-3 and a delocalization of neutral sphingomyelinase in the thyroid of old animals. A possible relationship between galectin-3, neutral sphingomyelinase, and aging has been discussed

Localization of nuclear actin in nuclear lipid microdomains of liver and hepatoma cells: Possible involvement of sphingomyelin metabolism

Nuclear actin has been implicated in different nuclear functions. In this work, its localization in nuclear membrane, chromatin and nuclear lipid microdomains was investigated. The implication of sphingomyelin metabolism was studied. Nuclear membrane, chromatin and nuclear lipid microdomains were purified from hepatocyte nuclei and H35 human hepatoma cell nuclei. The presence of \u3b2-actin was analyzed with immunoblotting by using specific antibodies. Sphingomyelinase, sphingomyelin-synthase, and phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C activities were assayed by using radioactivity sphingomyelin and phosphatidylcholine as substrate. The results showed that \u3b2-actin is localized in nuclear lipid microdomains and it increases in cancer cells. Evidence is provided to the difference of phosphatidylcholine and sphingomyelin metabolism in various subnuclear fractions of cancer cell nuclei compared with normal cells. Our findings show increase of sphingomyelin-synthase and inhibition of sphingomyelinase activity only in nuclear lipid microdomains. Nuclear lipid microdomains, constituted by phosphatidylcholine, sphingomyelin and cholesterol, play a role as platform for \u3b2-actin anchoring. Possible role of sphingomyelin metabolism in cancer cells is discussed

Licium Barbarum cultivated in Italy: Chemical characterization and nutritional evaluation

Goji berries are the most cultivated fruit crop in Asian countries as they contain many nutrients and health-promoting bioactive compounds. These health-promoting properties have recently stimulated the interest of food and nutraceutical industries in Europe, so this crop has spread within Italy, which has become the largest European producer. Several works on the chemical composition and biological activities of Chinese goji berries are available. In this review, the chemical and the nutritional profile of goji berries from Licium barbarum spp. cultivated in Italy are reported

Nuclear lipid microdomains regulate daunorubicin resistance in hepatoma cells

Daunorubicin is an anticancer drug, and cholesterol is involved in cancer progression, but their relationship has not been defined. In this study, we developed a novel experimental model that utilizes daunorubicin, cholesterol, and daunorubicin plus cholesterol in the same cells (H35) to search for the role of nuclear lipid microdomains, rich in cholesterol and sphingomyelin, in drug resistance. We find that the daunorubicin induces perturbation of nuclear lipid microdomains, localized in the inner nuclear membrane, where active chromatin is anchored. As changes of sphingomyelin species in nuclear lipid microdomains depend on neutral sphingomyelinase activity, we extended our studies to investigate whether the enzyme is modulated by daunorubicin. Indeed the drug stimulated the sphingomyelinase activity that induced reduction of saturated long chain fatty acid sphingomyelin species in nuclear lipid microdomains. Incubation of untreated-drug cells with high levels of cholesterol resulted in the inhibition of sphingomyelinase activity with increased saturated fatty acid sphingomyelin species. In daunodubicin-treated cells, incubation with cholesterol reversed the action of the drug by acting via neutral sphingomyelinase. In conclusion, we suggest that cholesterol and sphingomyelin-forming nuclear lipid microdomains are involved in the drug resistance