Something Smells Fishy: How Lipid Mediators Impact the Maternal-Fetal Interface and Neonatal Development

Roles of Lipoxygenases in Cardiovascular Diseases

Lipoxygenases (LOXs) are a family of dioxygenases that catalyze the peroxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as linoleic acid and arachidonic acid, initiating the synthesis of bioactive lipid mediators. The LOX-mediated production of these bioactive molecules in various cell types plays a critical role in the pathophysiology of cardiovascular diseases, including atherosclerosis, hypertension, and myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury. In this review, we summarize the roles of LOXs and their products in different cardiovascular cells and conditions, offering valuable insights may contribute to the development of novel therapeutic strategies for cardiovascular diseases.

Absolute Quantitative Lipidomics Reveals Differences in Lipid Compounds in the Blood of Trained and Untrained Yili Horses

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between blood lipid levels and the differences in cardiac structure and function of trained and untrained Yili horses as related to exercise performance. We utilized quantitative lipidomics technology to elucidate how the differences in lipid compounds in the blood influenced performance outcomes. Sixteen 18-month-old Yili horses were selected, ten of which received a 15-week training regimen, and six were kept as untrained controls. Cardiac structure and function were assessed by echocardiography, while plasma lipid metabolites were detected and identified by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The results showed that key cardiac structural indices, such as left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, left ventricular end-systolic diameter, and left ventricular posterior wall thickness, were significantly greater in the trained group compared with the untrained group, indicating that exercise training promotes adaptive cardiac remodeling. Regarding lipid metabolites, significant differences were observed between the trained and untrained groups, with a total of 281 lipids identified-212 upregulated and 69 downregulated. These differentially expressed lipids were primarily enriched in pathways such as necroptosis, ether lipid metabolism, and sphingolipid signaling, which are associated with cell migration, survival, proliferation, and regulation of lipid metabolism. Further correlation analysis revealed that differences in certain lipids, such as PE (20:4_18:0), PC (17:0_18:1), and LPC subclasses, were significantly correlated with exercise-mediated cardiac structural and functional changes and exercise performance enhancement. These findings provide novel molecular insights into the effects of exercise training on cardiac structure and lipid metabolism in horses and can serve as a reference for training strategies and preserving cardiac health in performance horses.

Fatty Acid Metabolism Disruptions: A Subtle yet Critical Factor in Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes

The establishment and maintenance of pregnancy encompass a series of complex and high-energy-consuming physiological processes, resulting in a significant energy demand. Fatty acids, one of the most essential nutrients, play a crucial role in energy supply via oxidation and perform critical biological functions such as anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects, which substantially impact human health. Disordered fatty acid metabolism can cause anomalies in fetal growth and development, as well as a range of pregnancy problems, which can influence the health of both the mother and the fetus. In this review, we innovatively explore the relationship between fatty acid metabolism abnormalities and pregnancy complications, emphasizing the potential of dietary interventions with polyunsaturated fatty acids in improving pregnancy outcomes. These findings provide important evidence for clinical interventions and enhance the understanding and practical application of health management during pregnancy.

Bioactive metabolites of OMEGA-6 and OMEGA-3 fatty acids are associated with inflammatory cytokine concentrations in maternal and infant plasma at the time of delivery

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Inflammation is necessary for a healthy pregnancy. However, unregulated or excessive inflammation during pregnancy is associated with severe maternal and infant morbidities, such as pre-eclampsia, abnormal infant neurodevelopment, or preterm birth. Inflammation is regulated in part by the bioactive metabolites of omega-6 (n-6) and omega-3 (n-3) fatty acids (FAs). N-6 FAs have been shown to promote pro-inflammatory cytokine environments in adults, while n-3 FAs have been shown to contribute to the resolution of inflammation; however, how these metabolites affect maternal and infant inflammation is still uncertain. The objective of this study was to predict the influence of n-6 and n-3 FA metabolites on inflammatory biomarkers in maternal and umbilical cord plasma at the time of delivery.

METHODS

Inflammatory biomarkers (IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and TNFα) for maternal and umbilical cord plasma samples in 39 maternal-infant dyads were analyzed via multi-analyte bead array. Metabolites of n-6 FAs (arachidonic acid and linoleic acid) and n-3 FAs (eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid) were assayed via liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Linear regression models assessed relationships between maternal and infant inflammatory markers and metabolite plasma concentrations.

RESULTS

Increased plasma concentrations of maternal n-6 metabolites were predictive of elevated pro-inflammatory cytokine concentrations in mothers; similarly, higher plasma concentrations of umbilical cord n-6 FA metabolites were predictive of elevated pro-inflammatory cytokine concentrations in infants. Higher plasma concentrations of maternal n-6 FA metabolites were also predictive of elevated pro-inflammatory cytokines in infants, suggesting that maternal n-6 FA status has an intergenerational impact on the inflammatory status of the infant. In contrast, maternal and cord plasma concentrations of n-3 FA metabolites had a mixed effect on inflammatory status in mothers and infants, which may be due to the inadequate maternal dietary intake of n-3 FAs in our study population.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results reveal that maternal FA status may have an intergenerational impact on the inflammatory status of the infant. Additional research is needed to identify how dietary interventions that modify maternal FA intake prior to or during pregnancy may impact maternal and infant inflammatory status and associated long-term health outcomes.

Evaluation of second trimester plasma lipoxin A4, VEGFR-1, IL-6, and TNF-α levels in pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus

In this study, our objective was to explore the association between gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and second trimester maternal plasma levels of lipoxin A4 (LXA4), along with proinflammatory markers such as interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and the anti-angiogenic factor vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1 (VEGFR-1) in pregnant women. The study included a cohort of 30 pregnant women with GDM and a control group of 30 normoglycaemic pregnant women matched for age, body mass index, and gestational age. Plasma samples were collected and analysed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to assess specific biomarkers. The GDM group had significantly lower levels of LXA4 and higher levels of TNF-α and VEGFR-1 compared to the control group (p = 0.038, p = 0.025, and p = 0.002, respectively). A statistically significant decrease in the LXA4/TNF-α ratio was observed in the GDM group (p = 0.004). The results suggest that each unit decrease in the LXA4/TNF-α ratio is associated with a 1.280-fold increase in the risk of GDM. These findings suggest a potential diagnostic role for the LXA4/TNFα ratio as a marker for women with GDM. This work provides new insights into the pathogenesis of GDM and highlights the important interplay between inflammation and metabolic dysregulation.