Bioactive Lipids

Introduction

Bioactive lipids are a chemically heterogeneous group of lipids, which are recognized as key mediators of cell growth, adhesion, migration, signaling, and death and are present in every organ. The concept of bioactive lipids took off in the 1950s, but received its full recognition only in the past 20 years. Among the prominent roles exerted by bioactive lipids are immune regulation, inflammation and maintenance of homeostasis ^[1]. And they act predominantly via G-protein coupled receptors (e.g., the prostaglandin E receptor) or nuclear receptor binding (e.g., PPARG), but other signal transduction mechanisms have been described, such as the regulation of ion channel activity.

Fig.1 The Schematic diagram of bioactive lipids (lysophospholipid) signaling in induced pluripotent stem cell

Classification

Bioactive lipids are divided by their biochemical functions into four major families: classical eicosanoids, endocannabinoids (eCBs), lysophospholipids/sphingolipids and specialized pro-resolving lipid mediators (SPMs) ^[1-2].

• Classical eicosanoids. Classical eicosanoids are a wide host of endogenous molecules, including more than 120 known compounds, which represents the most deeply characterized class of bioactive lipids as yet known. There are three classical types of eicosanoids: prostaglandins, thromboxanes, and leukotrienes and their main role is to amplify or reduce inflammation, coordinating leukocyte recruitment, cytokine and chemokine production, antibody formation, cell proliferation and migration, and antigen presentation.

Fig.2 Structures of representative classical eicosanoids

• eCBs. eCBs include a group of bioactive lipids that are able (although with different affinities) to bind to and activate type-1 and type-2 cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2). The two most well-characterized eCBs are anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG). These molecules are ubiquitously produced by most tissues, and serve as a homeostatic system that controls several physiopathological states ultimately maintaining human health.

Fig.3 Structures of representative eCBs

• Lysophospholipids and sphingolipids. Lysophospholipids and sphingolipids comprise several compounds with great molecular diversity (e.g., lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), sphingosylphosphorylcholine (SPC), sphingosines and ceramides) that regulate a rather wide range of cellular and physiological functions like membrane shaping, cell trafficking, cell growth and death, inflammatory cascades and leukocyte adhesion.
• SPMs. SPMs are a relatively novel family of endogenous lipids that are synthesized during acute inflammation either from v-6 AA or v-3 PUFAs like eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) through the coordinated action of the macrophages, neutrophils, platelets and hypoxic endothelia. They can act as cues for counterbalance the inflammatory and also act as immunoresolvents to resolve the inflammation such as clearance of debris and of infective agents, analgesia and then gain of function.

Fig.4 Structures of representative SPMs

Significance

Bioactive lipids have been consistently involved in the chronic inflammation that characterizes pathologies such as cancer, diabetes, atherosclerosis, asthma, as well as autoimmune and neurodegenerative disorders and inflammatory bowel diseases. That is bioactive lipids involve in the pathogenic processes of disease. Therefore, bioactive lipids serve as an important biomarker and mediator of disease and a better understanding of bioactive lipids in disease pathophysiology might give novel approaches for medical therapies of diseases. In addition to, bioactive lipids are also involved in many other functions. For example, in the cardiovascular system, they play important roles in cardiac regeneration, blood coagulation, blood vessel permeability, angiogenesis, control of vascular tone, and cellular migration and adhesion. Uncovering their novel biological functions also could pave the way for new therapeutic strategies aimed at the diseases. Finally, several major groups of bioactive lipids, such as oxylipins, lipophilic vitamins, and plant-derived chemical analogs, are reported to be beneficial to human health and are thus widely accepted as therapeutic agents for the prevention and treatment of disease ^[3].

Alfa Chemistry can offer various bioactive lipids. You can click on our product list for a detailed view. If you do not find the product you want, we also provide you with custom synthesis service. Please contact us, if you are in need of assistance.

References

1. Chiurchiu V., and Maccarrone M. Bioactive lipids as modulators of immunity, inflammation and emotions[J]. Current Opinion in Pharmacology, 2016, 29: 54-62.
2. Leuti A., et al. Bioactive lipids, inflammation and chronic diseases[J]. Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews, 2020, 159: 133-169.
3. Wasserman A. H., et al. Bioactive lipid signaling in cardiovascular disease, development, and regeneration[J]. Cells, 2020, 9(6): 1391.