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Plasmalogen phospholipids protect internodal myelin from oxidative damage
Adrienne M Luoma1, Fonghsu Kuo1, Ozgur Cakici1
1Biology Department, Boston College, 140 Commonwealth Avenue, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467-3811, USA.
Free Radical Biology & Medicine
|March 25, 2015
Summary
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) damage myelin, the nerve's protective sheath. Plasmalogens, a type of lipid, act as antioxidants, protecting myelin from this oxidative stress and preventing structural damage.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biochemistry
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are linked to aging and neurodegenerative diseases.
- Myelin, crucial for nerve conduction, is vulnerable to oxidative damage due to high energy demands and low antioxidant capacity.
- The protective mechanisms against ROS-induced myelin damage are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the structural and biochemical basis of ROS-mediated myelin damage in the central and peripheral nervous systems.
- To determine if hydroxyl radicals cause structural damage to myelin.
- To assess the role of plasmalogens in protecting myelin against oxidative stress.
Main Methods:
- Ex vivo incubation of murine sciatic and optic nerves with a hydroxyl radical-generating system (Cu/OP/HP).
- Quantitative assessment of myelin structure using X-ray diffraction.
- Comparison of myelin vulnerability in plasmalogen-deficient (Pex7 knockout) mice versus wild-type (WT) mice.
Main Results:
- Hydroxyl radicals induced irreversible compaction of myelin membrane stacking in both CNS and PNS tissues.
- A hydroxyl radical scavenger (sodium formate) prevented myelin compaction, confirming the role of hydroxyl radicals.
- Myelin from plasmalogen-deficient mice showed significantly greater vulnerability to ROS-induced compaction compared to WT mice.
Conclusions:
- Direct evidence supports hydroxyl radicals causing structural damage to myelin.
- Plasmalogens function as endogenous antioxidants, providing crucial protection for myelin against ROS-induced damage.
- Understanding these mechanisms is vital for addressing myelin degeneration in aging and neurological disorders.
Keywords:
AscorbateMembranesMyelinOptic nerveOxidative damagePlasmalogen lipidsSciatic nerveX-ray diffractionMore Related Videos
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