A LCMS-based untargeted lipidomics analysis of cleft palate in mouse

Recent studies have shown that lipid metabolism was abnormal during the formation of cleft palate. However, the composition of these lipid species remains unclear.

Aims of this study were to identify the lipid species components and reveal the key lipid metabolic disorders in cleft palate formation.

The pregnant mice were divided into experimental group exposed to all-trans retinoic acid (RA-treated group) (n = 12) and control group (n = 12) at embryonic gestation day 10.5 (E0.5). The component of the palatal tissue metabolome was analyzed using a LCMS-based nontargeted lipidomics approach. Multivariate statistical analysis was then carried out to assess the differences between the RA-treated group and the control group.

Twenty-nine lipid species were found to discriminate between RA-treated and control embryos. Among them, 28 lipid species increased and 1 lipid species decreased in the RA-treated group. Among these lipids, 13 were triglycerides, 9 were PEs, 3 were PCs, 2 were PSs, 2 were DGs. Further analysis of the number of carbons and unsaturated bond of triglycerides showed that TGs with high unsaturated bonds constituted a higher fraction in the RA-treated group. A higher amount of triglycerides containing 52, 54, 56, 58, 60 carbons, and 1 to 8 unsaturated bonds. Of note, under RA treatment, TG 50:1, 52:2, 56:6and 60:8 became the most prominent.

Lipid metabolism is significantly different in the formation of cleft palate induced by RA, and the unsaturated triglycerides increased in the RA-treated group may play an important role in the formation of cleft palate.