Disruption of hydrophobic stability of biomembranes is the earliest event in several clinical disorders.
Hydrophobic attractive force is the major force in maintaining the stability of biomembranes, yielding coordinated functionality to the embedded proteins that they contain. This force between the composite linear hydrocarbons of the biomembranes is a function of their length and their mutual parallel distance from each other, and is extremely sensitive to this distance. Extracellular, natural linear hydrocarbons of certain length and shape can intercalate into lipid matrix of the biomembranes, reducing their innate hydrophobic net strength in a concentration-dependent manner, making them loose, leaky, and thus gaining the credence of stimulus-generating agents. In physiological circulatory concentration, these molecules may have a role for the maintenance of cellular homeostasis. However, in stagnating physiological excess, these same agents can become acutely or chronically stimulating and, therefore, disease-precipitating. Such situations do exist in the clinical disorders of acne, atherosclerosis, acute pancreatitis, diabetes, diabetic retinopathy, homocysteinemea, and stress. A systematic approach, beginning with surface film studies with the suspect linear hydrocarbons, can be followed up with in vitro and in vivo studies. This should substantiate or negate the view presented here. Isolated information, along these lines, already exist in literature. The example of acne is a suitable starting point to elaborate this view, for sebaceous gland of the human pilosebaceous unit (PSU) contains all the exemplary, stimulus-inducing linear hydrocarbons to generate surface-reaction on the pilosebaceous ductal surface.
35-Country Hills Cove NW, Calgary, AB, Canada T3K 5G7. tapan@sprint.ca
Tapan K
TK
Karchoudhury
D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000818:Animals; D002462:Cell Membrane; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D006838:Hydrocarbons / Q000378:metabolism*; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D008566:Membranes / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D012627:Sebaceous Glands / Q000503:physiopathology*
D006838:Hydrocarbons