Analysis of cysteinyl leukotrienes and their metabolites in bile of patients with peroxisomal or mitochondrial beta-oxidation defects

Ertan Mayatepek, Sacha Ferdinandusse, Thomas Meissner, Ronald J. A. Wanders

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

13 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Cysteinyl leukotrienes (LTs) are potent lipid mediators which are predominantly eliminated via bile. Their metabolic inactivation and degradation proceeds by beta-oxidation. However, although bile is the optimal material for analysis of LTs in man, only very sparse data on bile LT concentration under normal or pathophysiological conditions exist. The aim of the present study was to present for the first time a complete profile of endogenous LTs in human bile and to investigate the importance of bile LT analysis in peroxisomal and mitochondrial beta-oxidation deficiency. Cysteinyl LTs and their oxidation metabolites were analysed after HPLC separation by specific immunoassays or gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Under physiological conditions, LTs are found in human bile (n = 8) in the nanomolar range with LTD4 predominating, whereas the other LTs were present in similar amounts. In bile of a patient with a peroxisome biogenesis disorder (Zellweger syndrome, ZS) LTE(4) was found to be slightly increased, whereas both omega-oxidation metabolites of LTE4, omega-hydroxy-LTE4 and omega-carboxy-LTE4, were highly increased (about 12-18 times). The beta-oxidation metabolite omega-carboxy-tetranor-LTE3 was below the detection limit ( <0.1 nmol/l; controls 1.4 +/- 1.2 nmol/l). This abnormal profile demonstrates an impaired degradation of LTs in ZS. In contrast, patients with X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD), medium-chain acyl CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (MCAD) as well as very long-chain acyl CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (VLCAD) did not show any differences in their biliary profile of LTs compared to controls. Increased levels of the biologically active cysteinyl LTs in the bile of patients with ZS might be of pathophysiological significance in the course of the disease, e.g. contributing to liver injury. In addition, our data confirm that the beta-oxidation of cysteinyl LTs in vivo occurs in peroxisomes and not in mitochondria
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)89-92
JournalClinica chimica acta; international journal of clinical chemistry
Volume345
Issue number1-2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2004

Cite this