Decreased plasma levels of sphingolipids and total cholesterol in adult cystic fibrosis patients

Dilara Bal Topcu; Berrin Er; Filiz Ozcan; Mutay Aslan; Lutfi Coplu; Incilay Lay; Yesim Oztas

doi:10.1016/j.plefa.2023.102590

Decreased plasma levels of sphingolipids and total cholesterol in adult cystic fibrosis patients

Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids. 2023 Oct:197:102590. doi: 10.1016/j.plefa.2023.102590. Epub 2023 Sep 16.

Authors

Dilara Bal Topcu¹, Berrin Er², Filiz Ozcan³, Mutay Aslan⁴, Lutfi Coplu², Incilay Lay¹, Yesim Oztas⁵

Affiliations

¹ Hacettepe University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Biochemistry, 06100, Ankara, Turkey.
² Hacettepe University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Chest Diseases, 06100, Ankara, Turkey.
³ Antalya Bilim University, Vocational School of Health Services, Department of Dialysis, 07190, Antalya, Turkey.
⁴ Akdeniz University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Biochemistry, Konyaaltı, 07070, Antalya, Turkey.
⁵ Hacettepe University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Biochemistry, 06100, Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address: yoztas@hacettepe.edu.tr.

PMID: 37741047
DOI: 10.1016/j.plefa.2023.102590

Abstract

Background: Sphingolipid species in the lung epithelium have a critical role for continuity of membrane structure, vesicular transport, and cell survival. Sphingolipid species were reported to have a role in the inflammatory etiology of cystic fibrosis by previous work. The aim of the study was to investigate the levels of plasma sphingomyelin and ceramide in adult cystic fibrosis (CF) patients and compared with healthy controls.

Materials and methods: Blood samples were obtained from CF patients at exacerbation (n = 15), discharge (n = 13) and stable periods (n = 11). Healthy individuals (n = 15) of similar age served as control. Levels of C16-C24 sphingomyelin and C16-C24 ceramide were measured in the plasma by LC-MS/MS. Also, cholesterol and triglyceride levels were determined in plasma samples of the patients at stable period.

Results: All measured sphingomyelin and ceramide levels in all periods of CF patients were significantly lower than healthy controls except C16 sphingomyelin level in the stable period. However, plasma Cer and SM levels among exacerbation, discharge, and stable periods of CF were not different. CF patients had significantly lower cholesterol levels compared to healthy individuals. We found significant correlation of cholesterol with C16 sphingomyelin.

Conclusion: We observed lower plasma Cer and SM levels in adult CF patients at exacerbation, discharge, and stable periods compared to healthy controls. We didn't find any significant difference between patient Cer and SM levels among these three periods. Our limited number of patients might have resulted with this statistical insignificance. However, percentage of SM16 levels were increased at discharge compared to exacerbation levels, while percentage of Cer16 and Cer 20 decreased at stable compared to exacerbation. Inclusion of a larger number of CF patients in such a follow up study may better demonstrate any possible difference between exacerbation, discharge, and stable periods.

Keywords: Ceramide; Cystic fibrosis; Exacerbation; Sphingolipid; Sphingomyelin.