Full Access
Red blood cell fatty acids in multiple sclerosis
X. Navarro,
R. Segura,
Corresponding Author
X. Navarro
Department of Physiology, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain
*Xavier Navarro, M.D., Department of Cell Biology and Physiology Universidad Autonoma de Barcelona 08193 Bellaterra Barcelona SpainSearch for more papers by this authorR. Segura
Department of Physiology, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain
Search for more papers by this authorX. Navarro,
R. Segura,
Corresponding Author
X. Navarro
Department of Physiology, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain
*Xavier Navarro, M.D., Department of Cell Biology and Physiology Universidad Autonoma de Barcelona 08193 Bellaterra Barcelona SpainSearch for more papers by this authorR. Segura
Department of Physiology, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain
Search for more papers by this authorABSTRACT—
The fatty acid (FA) composition of each phospholipid constituent of the red blood cells (RBC) was analyzed, by thin-layer and gas chromatography techniques, in 61 multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and 61 normal subjects, in whom the plasma lipid FA composition had previously been studied. The MS patients showed a significant decrease in the proportions of linoleic and arachidonic acids in most phospholipids, with a compensatory increase of saturated FA. Correlations between FA percentages in plasma and cell lipids demonstrated abnormalities in the MS patients, suggestive of a disturbance in the exchange between these compartments. The alterations reported in plasma and RBC in the MS patients are consistent with a relative deficiency of essential FA
REFERENCES
- 1 Baker RWR, Thompson RHS, Zilkha KJ. Fatty acid composition of brain lecithins in multiple sclerosis. Lancet 1963: 1: 26–27.
- 2 Seidel D, Heipertz R, Weisner B. Cerebrospinal fluid lipids in demyelinating diseases. II. Linoleic acid as an index of impaired blood-CSF barrier. J Neurol 1980: 222: 177–182.
- 3 Neu IS. Essential fatty acids in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid of multiple sclerosis patients. Acta Neurol Scand 1983: 67: 151–163.
- 4 Baker RWR, Thompson RHS, Zilkha KJ. Serum fatty acids in multiple sclerosis. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiat 1964: 27: 408–414.
- 5 Baker RWR, Sanders H, Thompson RHS, Zilkha KJ. Serum cholesteryl linoleate levels in multiple sclerosis. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiat 1965: 25: 212–217.
- 6 Belin J, Pettet N, Smith AD, Thompson RHS, Zilkha KJ. Linoleate metabolism in multiple sclerosis. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiat 1911: 34: 25–29.
- 7 Tichy J, Vymazal J. Changes of some serum fatty acids and lipids in relation to the clinical course of multiple sclerosis. Acta Neurol Scand 1973: 49: 345–354.
- 8 Gul S, Smith AD, Thompson RHS, Wright HP, Zilkha KJ. Fatty acid composition of phospholipids from platelets and erythrocytes in multiple sclerosis. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychait 1970: 33: 506–510.
- 9 Mahler R. In: Davison et al, eds. Multiple sclerosis research. London : HMSO, 1975: 193–196.
- 10 Tsang WM, Belin J, Monro JA, Smith AD, Thompson RHS, Zilkha KJ. Relationship between plasma and lymphocyte linoleate in multiple sclerosis. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiat 1976: 39: 767–771.
- 11 Cherayil GD. Sialic acid and fatty acid concentrations in lymphocytes, red blood cells and plasma from patients with multiple sclerosis. J Neurol Sci 1984: 65: 1–10.
- 12 Fisher M, Johnson MH, Natale AM, Levine PH. Linoleic acid levels in white blood cells, platelets, and serum of multiple sclerosis patients. Acta Neurol Scand 1987: 76: 241–245.
- 13 Thompson RHS. Fatty acid metabolism in multiple sclerosis. Biochem Soc Symp 1973: 35: 103–111.
- 14 Field EJ. Multiple Sclerosis in Childhood. Springfield : CC Thomas, 1980.
- 15 Field EJ, Shenton BK, Joyce G. Specific laboratory test for diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. Br Med J 1974: 1: 412–414.
- 16 Field EJ, Joyce G, Smith BM. Erythrocyte-UFA (EUFA) mobility test for multiple sclerosis: Implications for pathogenesis and handling of the disease. J Neurol 1977, 214: 113–127.
- 17 Navarro X, Segura R. Plasma lipids and their fatty acid composition in multiple sclerosis. Acta Neurol Scand 1988: 78: 152–157.
- 18 Rose AG, Ellison GW, Myers LW, Tourtellotte WW. Criteria for the clinical diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. Neurology 1976: 26: 20–22.
- 19 Kurtzke JF. Rating neurological impairment in multiple sclerosis: AN expanded disability status scale (EDSS). Neurology 1983: 33: 1444–1452.
- 20 Mertin J, Meade CJ. Relevance of fatty acids in multiple sclerosis. Br Med Bull 1977: 33: 67–71.
- 21 Wolfgram F, Myers L, Ellison G, Knipprath W. Serum linoleic acid in multiple sclerosis. Neurology 1975: 25: 786–788.
- 22 Shukla VKS, Clausen J. Linoleate and fatty acid patterns of serum lipids in multiple sclerosis. Acta Neurol Scand 1978: 57: 270–274.
- 23 Arnetoli G, Pazzagli A, Amaducci L. Fatty acid and aldehyde changes in choline- and ethanolamine-containing phospholipids in the white matter of multiple sclerosis brains. J Neurochem 1969: 16: 461–463.
- 24 Woelk H, Borri P. Lipid and fatty acid composition of myelin purified from normal ans MS brains. Eur Neurol 1973: 10: 250–260.
- 25 Neu I, Woelk H. Investigation of the lipid metabolism of the white matter in multiple sclerosis. Neurochem Res 1982: 7: 727–735.
- 26 Nelson GJ. Lipid composition and metabolism of erythrocytes. In: Nelson, ed. Blood lipids and lipoproteins: quantitation, composition and metabolism. New York : Wiley Interscience, 1972: 317–385.
- 27 Cuzner ML, Davison AN. The scientific basis of multiple sclerosis. Molec Aspects Med 1979: 2: 147–248.
- 28 Field EJ, Joyce G. Multiple sclerosis: Effect of gamma linolenate administration upon membranes and the need for extended clinical trials of unsaturated fatty acids. Eur Neurol 1983: 22: 78–83.
- 29 Dworkin RH, Bates D, Millar JHD, Paty DN. Linoleic acid and multiple sclerosis: a reanalysis of three double-blind trials. Neurology 1984: 34: 1441–1445.
- 30 Huang YS, Martineau A, Falardeau P, Davignon J. Fatty acid composition of tissue phospholipids and prostaglandin excretion in hyperlipidemia induced in rats by implantation of the mamotropic pituitary tumor MtT-F4. Lipids 1983: 18: 412–422.
- 31 Dore-Duffy P, Donaldson JO, Koff T, Longo M, Perry W. Prostaglandin release in multiple sclerosis: Correlation with disease activity. Neurology 1987: 36: 1587–1590.
- 32 Andreoli VW, Maffei F, Arienti G, et al. Increased lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase activity in multiple sclerosis patients. Pharmacol Res Commun 1973: 5: 37–40.
- 33 Cooper RA. Abnormalities of cell-membrane fluidity in the pathogenesis of disease. NE J Med 1977: 297: 371–377.
