Free fatty acid determination as a tool for modeling metabolic diseases in Drosophila.

Free or non-esterified fatty acids are the product of lipolysis of storage fat, i.e. triacylglyceroles. When the amount of fat exceeds the capacity of lipid-storing organs, free fatty acids affect and damage other non-lipid-storing organs. This process is termed lipotoxicity. Within a cell, free fatty acids can damage mitochondria, and lipotoxicity-induced mitochondrial damage has been associated recently with Peroxisomal Biogenesis Disorders. Drosophila melanogaster has a rising popularity as a model organism for metabolic diseases, but an optimized assay for measuring free fatty acids in Drosophila tissue samples is missing. Here we present a detailed protocol highlighting technical requirements and pitfalls to determine free fatty acids in samples of Drosophila tissue. The colorimetric assay allows the reproducible and cost-efficient measurement of free fatty acids in a 96 well plate format. We used our assay to determine changes in free fatty acid levels in different developmental stages and feeding conditions, and found that larvae and adults have different patterns of free fatty acid formation during starvation. Our assay is a valuable tool in the modeling of metabolic diseases with Drosophila melanogaster.

SIRT1 activation alleviates brain microvascular endothelial dysfunction in peroxisomal disorders.

Peroxisomal disorders are genetically heterogeneous metabolic disorders associated with a deficit of very long chain fatty acid ß­oxidation that commonly manifest as early­onset neurodegeneration. Brain microvascular endothelial dysfunction with increased permeability to monocytes has been described in X­linked adrenoleukodystrophy, one of the most common peroxisomal disorders caused by mutations of the ATP binding cassette subfamily D member 1 (ABCD1) gene. The present study demonstrated that dysregulation of sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) in human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMECs) mediates changes in adhesion molecules and tight­junction protein expression, as well as increased adhesion to monocytes associated with peroxisomal dysfunction due to ABCD1 or hydroxysteroid 17­ß dehydrogenase 4 silencing. Furthermore, enhancement of the function of SIRT1 by resveratrol attenuated this molecular and functional dysregulation of HBMECs via modulation of the nuclear factor­κB and Krüppel­like factor 4 signaling pathways.

Peroxisomal dysfunction in neurodegenerative diseases.

Peroxisomes and their (patho-)physiological importance in heath and disease have attracted increasing interest during last few decades. Together with mitochondria, peroxisomes comprise key metabolic platforms for oxidation of various fatty acids and redox regulation. In addition, peroxisomes contribute to bile acid, cholesterol, and plasmalogen biosynthesis. The importance of functional peroxisomes for cellular metabolism is demonstrated by the marked brain and systemic organ abnormalities occuring in peroxisome biogenesis disorders and peroxisomal enzyme deficiencies. Current evidences indicate that peroxisomal function is declined with aging, with peroxisomal dysfunction being linked to early onset of multiple age-related diseases including neurodegenerative diseases. Herein, we review recent progress toward understanding the physiological roles and pathological implications of peroxisomal dysfunctions, focusing on neurodegenerative disease.

The many faces of peroxisomal disorders: Lessons from a large Arab cohort.

Defects in the peroxisomes biogenesis and/or function result in peroxisomal disorders. In this study, we describe the largest Arab cohort to date (72 families) of clinically, biochemically and molecularly characterized patients with peroxisomal disorders. At the molecular level, we identified 43 disease-causing variants, half of which are novel. The founder nature of many of the variants allowed us to calculate the minimum disease burden for these disorders in our population ~1:30 000, which is much higher than previous estimates in other populations. Clinically, we found an interesting trend toward genotype/phenotype correlation in terms of long-term survival. Nearly half (40/75) of our peroxisomal disorders patients had documented survival beyond 1 year of age. Most unusual among the long-term survivors was a multiplex family in which the affected members presented as adults with non-specific intellectual disability and epilepsy. Other unusual presentations included the very recently described peroxisomal fatty acyl-CoA reductase 1 disorder as well as CRD, spastic paraparesis, white matter (CRSPW) syndrome. We conclude that peroxisomal disorders are highly heterogeneous in their clinical presentation. Our data also confirm the demonstration that milder forms of Zellweger spectrum disorders cannot be ruled out by the "gold standard" very long chain fatty acids assay, which highlights the value of a genomics-first approach in these cases.

[Biogenesis, the Function of Peroxisomes, and Their Role in Genetic Disease: With a Focus on the ABC Transporter].

Peroxisomes are organelles that are present in almost all eukaryotic cells. These organelles were first described in 1954, in the cytoplasm of the proximal tubule cells in the mouse kidney, using electron microscopy by Rhodin and referred to as "microbodies". Then, de Duve and Baudhuin isolated microbodies from rat liver using density gradient centrifugation, defined the microbodies as membrane-bound organelles containing several H2O2-producing oxidases and H2O2-degrading catalase, and named them peroxisomes. At present, the biogenesis of peroxisomes in mammals involves three different processes: the formation of pre-peroxisomes from the endoplasmic reticulum, the import of peroxisomal membrane and matrix proteins to the pre-peroxisomes, and the growth and division of the peroxisomes. These organelles are involved in a variety of metabolic processes, including the ß-oxidation of very long chain fatty acids, and the synthesis of ether phospholipids and bile acids in mammals. These metabolic pathways require the transport of metabolites in and out of peroxisomes. The transport of such metabolites is facilitated in part by the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter. Impairment of the biogenesis and function of peroxisomes causes severe peroxisomal disorders. Since I began peroxisome research at Professor de Duve's laboratory in 1985, I have studied the biogenesis and function of peroxisomes and peroxisome diseases for more than 30 years, with a focus on ABC transporters. Here, I review the biogenesis of peroxisomes, the targeting of ABC transporters to the peroxisome, and the function of ABC transporters in physiological and pathological processes, including X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy, a neurodegenerative disease.

Peroxisomes and peroxisomal disorders: the main facts.

The importance of peroxisomes for human health is highlighted by the number of peroxisomal disorders (PDs), diseases associated to peroxisome biogenesis disorders and peroxisomal enzyme/transporter deficiencies. Currently, many physiological/biosynthetic mechanisms involved in these illnesses have been elucidated, but PDs remain incurable. This review examines the most important aspects concerning peroxisomes (i.e. peroxisome proliferation, peroxisome biogenesis, metabolic functions of mammalian peroxisomes) and presents the most significant trends and advances in the study of peroxisomal disorders.

Peroxisomal dysfunction in inflammatory childhood white matter disorders: an unexpected contributor to neuropathology.

The peroxisome, an ubiquitous subcellular organelle, plays an important function in cellular metabolism, and its importance for human health is underscored by the identification of fatal disorders caused by genetic abnormalities. Recent findings indicate that peroxisomal dysfunction is not only restricted to inherited peroxisomal diseases but also to disease processes associated with generation of inflammatory mediators that downregulate cellular peroxisomal homeostasis. Evidence indicates that leukodystrophies (i.e. X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy, globoid cell leukodystrophy, and periventricular leukomalacia) may share common denominators in the development and progression of the inflammatory process and thus in the dysfunctions of peroxisomes. Dysfunctions of peroxisomes may therefore contribute in part to white matter disease and to the mental and physical disabilities that develop in patients affected by these diseases.

Peroxisomal disorders: the single peroxisomal enzyme deficiencies.

Peroxisomal disorders are a group of inherited diseases in man in which either peroxisome biogenesis or one or more peroxisomal functions are impaired. The peroxisomal disorders identified to date are usually classified in two groups including: (1) the disorders of peroxisome biogenesis, and (2) the single peroxisomal enzyme deficiencies. This review is focused on the second group of disorders, which currently includes ten different diseases in which the mutant gene affects a protein involved in one of the following peroxisomal functions: (1) ether phospholipid (plasmalogen) biosynthesis; (2) fatty acid beta-oxidation; (3) peroxisomal alpha-oxidation; (4) glyoxylate detoxification, and (5) H2O2 metabolism.

Very-long-chain fatty acids activate lysosomal hydrolases in neonatal human skin tissue.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the in vitro effect of peroxisomal dysfunction on lysosomal enzymes, the autophagic machinery in the cell, in order to understand the mechanisms of pathogenesis of peroxisomal disorders. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Foreskin samples were obtained immediately after circumcision of 1- to 2-day-old infants at the Maternity Hospital, Kuwait. Skin tissues were cleaned, cut into slices of 1-2 mm2 in size and treated with lignoceric acid (1-20 microg/ml), a very-long-chain fatty acid (VLCFA), in the presence or absence of 1-5 mM aminotriazole (ATZ). A battery of lysosomal enzymes were assayed following treatment of dermal tissue with VLCFA or ATZ. RESULTS: Treatment of skin slices with lignoceric acid significantly increased (p < 0.001) the enzymic activities of acid lipase, acid phosphatase, alpha-glucosidase, alpha-galactosidase, N-acetyl-alpha-D-glucosaminidase (NAGA) and N-acetyl-alpha-D-galactosaminidase (NAGTA). ATZ (1-5 mM), an inhibitor of key peroxi somal enzyme catalase, also markedly increased the enzymic activities of acid phosphatase, alpha-glucosidase (23%) and alpha-galactosidase (18%) without any significant effect on NAGA or NAGTA. Western blot analysis further revealed that both VLCFA and ATZ significantly increased the protein expression of lysosomal enzymes, beta-galactosidase and beta-glucuronidase. CONCLUSION: Experimen tal dysfunction of peroxisomes mimicked by elevated VLCFA or ATZ-mediated catalase inhibition significantly increased the activities of lysosomal hydrolases in human dermal tissue, suggesting that activation of the lysosomal system could be one of the factors responsible for cellular damage during pathogenesis of peroxisomal diseases.

Impaired peroxisomal function in the central nervous system with inflammatory disease of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis animals and protection by lovastatin treatment.

Peroxisomes are ubiquitous subcellular organelles and abnormality in their biogenesis and specific gene defects leads to fatal demyelinating disorders. We report that neuroinflammatory disease in brain of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) rats decreased the peroxisomal functions. Degradation of very long chain fatty acids decreased by 47% and resulted in its accumulation (C26:0, 40%). Decreased activity (66% of control) of dihydroxyacetonephosphate acyltransferase (DHAP-AT), first enzyme in plasmalogens biosynthesis, resulted in decreased levels of plasmalogens (16-30%). Catalase activity, a peroxisomal enzyme, was also reduced (37%). Gene microarray analysis of EAE spinal cord showed significant decrease in transcripts encoding peroxisomal proteins including catalase (folds 3.2; p<0.001) and DHAP-AT (folds 2.6; p<0.001). These changes were confirmed by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis, suggesting that decrease of peroxisomal functions in the central nervous system will have negative consequences for myelin integrity and repair because these lipids are major constituents of myelin. However, lovastatin (a cholesterol lowering and anti-inflammatory drug) administered during EAE induction provided protection against loss/down-regulation of peroxisomal functions. Attenuation of induction of neuroinflammatory mediators by statins in cultured brain cells [J. Clin. Invest. 100 (1997) 2671-2679], and in central nervous system of EAE animals and thus the EAE disease [J. Neurosci. Res. 66 (2001) 155-162] and the studies described here indicate that inflammatory mediators have a marked negative effect on peroxisomal functions and thus on myelin assembly and that these effects can be prevented by treatment with statins. These observations are of importance because statins are presently being tested as therapeutic agents against a number of neuroinflammatory demyelinating diseases.

Modeling human peroxisome biogenesis disorders in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans.

Peroxisomes are ubiquitous eukaryotic organelles. The proteins required for peroxisome biogenesis are called peroxins, and mutations in the peroxin genes cause the devastating human developmental syndromes called the peroxisome biogenesis disorders. Our interest is in elaborating the roles that peroxisomes play in Caenorhabditis elegans development, and in establishing an invertebrate model system for the human peroxisome biogenesis disorders. The genome of C. elegans encodes homologs of 11 of the 13 human peroxins. We disrupted five nematode peroxins using RNA interference (RNAi) and found that RNAi knockdown of each one causes an early larval arrest at the L1 stage. Using a green fluorescent protein reporter targeted to the peroxisome, we establish that peroxisomal import is impaired in prx-5(RNAi) nematodes. prx-5(RNAi) animals are blocked very early in the L1 stage and do not initiate normal postembryonic cell divisions, similar to starvation-arrested larvae. Cell and axonal migrations that normally occur during the L1 stage also appear blocked. We conclude that peroxisome function is required for C. elegans postembryonic development and that disruption of peroxisome assembly by prx-5(RNAi) prevents scheduled postembryonic cell divisions. Defects in the cellular localization of peroxisomal proteins and in development are shared features of human and nematode peroxisome biogenesis disorders. In setting up a C. elegans model of peroxisomal biogenesis disorders, we suggest that genetic screens for suppression of the Prx developmental block will facilitate identification of novel intervention strategies and may provide new insights into human disease pathogenesis.

Enhanced expression of a-series gangliosides in fibroblasts of patients with peroxisome biogenesis disorders.

Peroxisome biogenesis disorders (PBD) are classified into Zellweger syndrome (ZS), infantile Refsum disease (IRD) and neonatal adrenoleukodystrophy. Disturbances in the differentiation of neural cells such as migration arrest are characteristic of PBD. So far the pathogenesis of these disturbances is not clearly understood. We describe an altered metabolism of glycosphingolipids in PBD which has not yet been investigated. We observed an increased amount of a-series gangliosides, GM2, GM1 and GD1a, in the fibroblasts of patients with ZS and IRD. Gangliosides GM1 and GD1a were not present in detectable amounts in normal subjects. A key step in the synthesis of a-series gangliosides is a transfer of GalNAc to ganglioside GM3, so we determined the level of ganglioside GM3 by immunohistochemical methods. We found a granular structure, which was positive toward anti-ganglioside GM3 antibody in the cytoplasm of the patients' fibroblasts. In control cells, the cell membrane was slightly positive toward anti-GM3 antibody. These results may help to clarify the pathogenesis of PBD with respect to the functional roles of glycosphingolipids in cell differentiation, proliferation and apoptosis.

Metabolic control of peroxisome abundance.

Zellweger syndrome and related disorders represent a group of lethal, genetically heterogeneous diseases. These peroxisome biogenesis disorders (PBDs) are characterized by defective peroxisomal matrix protein import and comprise at least 10 complementation groups. The genes defective in seven of these groups and more than 90% of PBD patients are now known. Here we examine the distribution of peroxisomal membrane proteins in fibroblasts from PBD patients representing the seven complementation groups for which the mutant gene is known. Peroxisomes were detected in all PBD cells, indicating that the ability to form a minimal peroxisomal structure is not blocked in these mutants. We also observed that peroxisome abundance was reduced fivefold in PBD cells that are defective in the PEX1, PEX5, PEX12, PEX6, PEX10, and PEX2 genes. These cell lines all display a defect in the import of proteins with the type-1 peroxisomal targeting signal (PTS1). In contrast, peroxisome abundance was unaffected in cells that are mutated in PEX7 and are defective only in the import of proteins with the type-2 peroxisomal targeting signal. Interestingly, a fivefold reduction in peroxisome abundance was also observed for cells lacking either of two PTS1-targeted peroxisomal beta-oxidation enzymes, acyl-CoA oxidase and 2-enoyl-CoA hydratase/D-3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase. These results indicate that reduced peroxisome abundance in PBD cells may be caused by their inability to import these PTS1-containing enzymes. Furthermore, the fact that peroxisome abundance is influenced by peroxisomal 105-oxidation activities suggests that there may be metabolic control of peroxisome abundance.

Accumulation of glycolipids in mutant Chinese hamster ovary cells (Z65) with defective peroxisomal assembly and comparison of the metabolic rate of glycosphingolipids between Z65 cells and wild-type CHO-K1 cells.

The influence of peroxisomal dysfunction on glycosphingolipid metabolism was investigated using mutant Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells (Z65) with defective assembly of the peroxisomal membranes. In accordance with previous observations, the concentration of very long chain fatty acid (C24:0) was shown to be higher in Z65 cells than in control cells. We then compared the composition of glycolipids in Z65 cells with that in CHO-K1 cells, which are wild-type Chinese hamster ovary cells with intact peroxisomes, and found significantly increased concentrations of ceramide monohexoside (CMH) and ganglioside GM3 in Z65 cells. However, there were no differences in the concentrations of glycerophospholipids, triglycerides, free fatty acids and cholesterol between Z65 and CHO-K1 cells. Further, to investigate the metabolic rate of the major lipids, Z65 and CHO-K1 cells were pulse-labeled with [3-14C]serine. [3-14C]Serine was incorporated into phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylethanolamine and sphingomyelin more quickly in CHO-K1 than in Z65 cells. However, after 48 h, the radioactivity incorporated into those lipids, including CMH, was greater in Z65 cells than in CHO-K1 cells. Thus, the altered metabolism of glycosphingolipids, probably due to peroxisomal dysfunction, was thought to be responsible for the change in glycosphingolipid composition in Z65 cells.