Endoplasmic stress-inducing variants in carboxyl ester lipase and pancreatic cancer risk

Carboxyl ester lipase hybrid 1 (CEL-HYB1) haplotypes confer varying risk for chronic pancreatitis

The CEL-HYB1 hybrid allele of the carboxyl ester lipase (CEL) gene and its pseudogene (CELP) has been associated with chronic pancreatitis (CP). Recent work indicated that amino acid positions 488 and 548 in CEL-HYB1 determined pathogenicity. Haplotype Thr488-Ile548 was associated with CP while haplotypes Thr488-Thr548 and Ile488-Thr548 were benign. However, functional analysis revealed that Thr488 is the primary determinant of CEL-HYB1 misfolding and associated endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. To address this contradiction, we analyzed a cohort from Hungary and found significantly increased CEL-HYB1 carrier frequency in CP cases (9/319, 2.8%) versus controls (5/618, 0.8%), yielding an odds ratio of 3.6 (95% confidence interval 1.2-10.7, P = 0.024). All CEL-HYB1 positive carriers from Hungary had the Thr488-Thr548 haplotype. We analyzed the haplotype distribution of reported CEL-HYB1 carriers from three European cohorts and found that 14/29 CP cases from Germany and 2/6 CP cases from Poland carried the Thr488-Ile548 haplotype, which was absent in CEL-HYB1 positive controls from Germany (n = 13) and Poland (n = 8). All patients (n = 17) and controls (n = 9) from France carrying CEL-HYB1 contained the Thr488-Thr548 haplotype. Functional studies using transfected cells indicated that both CEL-HYB1 haplotypes induced significant ER stress and the Thr488-Ile548 haplotype had a stronger effect. We conclude that the Thr488-Thr548 haplotype of CEL-HYB1 is widespread in Europe and increases CP risk by almost fourfold. In contrast, the Thr488-Ile548 haplotype is regionally restricted, but confers markedly stronger CP risk.

Structure, Biological Functions, Separation, Properties, and Potential Applications of Milk Fat Globule Membrane (MFGM): A Review

BACKGROUND

The milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) is a thin film that exists within the milk emulsion, suspended on the surface of milk fat globules, and comprises a diverse array of bioactive components. Recent advancements in MFGM research have sparked a growing interest in its biological characteristics and health-related functions. Thorough exploration and utilization of MFGM as a significant bioactive constituent in milk emulsion can profoundly impact human health in a positive manner. Scope and approach: This review comprehensively examines the current progress in understanding the structure, composition, physicochemical properties, methods of separation and purification, and biological activity of MFGM. Additionally, it underscores the vast potential of MFGM in the development of additives and drug delivery systems, with a particular focus on harnessing the surface activity and stability of proteins and phospholipids present on the MFGM for the production of natural emulsifiers and drug encapsulation materials.

KEY FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS

MFGM harbors numerous active substances that possess diverse physiological functions, including the promotion of digestion, maintenance of the intestinal mucosal barrier, and facilitation of nerve development. Typically employed as a dietary supplement in infant formula, MFGM's exceptional surface activity has propelled its advancement toward becoming a natural emulsifier or encapsulation material. This surface activity is primarily derived from the amphiphilicity of polar lipids and the stability exhibited by highly glycosylated proteins.