Cholesteryl esters as a depot for very long chain fatty acids in human meibum.
Human meibomian gland secretions (also known as meibum) were analyzed for the presence of cholesteryl esters (Chl-E) using HPLC in combination with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry. A special procedure based on detection of the in-source generated ion m/z 369 was developed to monitor all Chl-E simultaneously. The structures of the detected compounds were studied using in-source and postsource fragmentation of the precursor (M+H)(+) ions. In concordance with previous studies, Chl-E were found in all of the tested samples and comprised approximately 31% of the entire lipid pool (w/w, dry weight). There were at least 20 different saturated and unsaturated Chl-E species observed, whose fatty acid residues ranged from C18 to C34. Monounsaturated fatty acids were the most visible components of the Chl-E pool. The eleven most prominent compounds were: C20:0-, C22:1-, C22:0-, C24:1-, C24:0, C25:0-, C26:1-, C26:0-, C28:1-, C28:0-, and C30:1-Chl-E. Other Chl-containing compounds were detected but not identified at the time. Therefore, Chl-E are a depot for very long chain saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids in human meibum.
Butovich
Igor A
IA
Department of Ophthalmology and Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390. Electronic address: igor.butovich@utsouthwestern.edu.
D002788:Cholesterol Esters / Q000378:metabolism*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D008537:Meibomian Glands / Q000378:metabolism*; D015394:Molecular Structure
D002788:Cholesterol Esters; D005227:Fatty Acids