Altered long chain fatty acids composition in Duchenne muscular dystrophy erythrocytes.
BACKGROUND
Biochemical abnormalities, increased efflux of soluble enzymes and muscle proteins, and altered permeability of muscle membranes imply the presence of a disorganized erythrocyte membrane in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). The purpose of the present study was to investigate this hypothesis of a generalized membrane defect.


METHODS
Twenty-five patients with the disease were analyzed for their erythrocyte lipid composition and for alterations in their fatty acid content compared to twenty-five healthy subjects.


RESULTS
DMD patients showed a decreased concentration of total phospholipids compared to healthy volunteers, with striking fluctuations in concentrations of erythrocyte long chain fatty acids. Specifically, the unsaturated fatty acids such as oleic, linoleic and arachidonic acids were significantly decreased in the disease, whereas the saturated fatty acid, palmitic acid was increased in DMD patients compared to healthy controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest an abnormal fatty acid composition and disorganization of erythrocyte membrane in patients with DMD associated with possible functional alterations.
Piperi
Christina
C
Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Athens, School of Medicine, Athens, Greece.
Papapanagiotou
Aggeliki
A
Kalofoutis
Christos
C
Zisaki
Katerina
K
Michalaki
Vasiliki
V
Tziraki
Anna
A
Kalofoutis
Anastasios
A
D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000737:chemistry*; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008563:Membrane Lipids / Q000737:chemistry; D020388:Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne / Q000097:blood*; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000032:analysis
D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D008563:Membrane Lipids; D010743:Phospholipids