Alterations in lipid metabolism of spinal cord linked to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Sci Rep. 2019 Aug 12;9(1):11642. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-48059-7.

Abstract

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is characterized by progressive loss of upper and lower motor neurons leading to muscle paralysis and death. While a link between dysregulated lipid metabolism and ALS has been proposed, lipidome alterations involved in disease progression are still understudied. Using a rodent model of ALS overexpressing mutant human Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase gene (SOD1-G93A), we performed a comparative lipidomic analysis in motor cortex and spinal cord tissues of SOD1-G93A and WT rats at asymptomatic (~70 days) and symptomatic stages (~120 days). Interestingly, lipidome alterations in motor cortex were mostly related to age than ALS. In contrast, drastic changes were observed in spinal cord of SOD1-G93A 120d group, including decreased levels of cardiolipin and a 6-fold increase in several cholesteryl esters linked to polyunsaturated fatty acids. Consistent with previous studies, our findings suggest abnormal mitochondria in motor neurons and lipid droplets accumulation in aberrant astrocytes. Although the mechanism leading to cholesteryl esters accumulation remains to be established, we postulate a hypothetical model based on neuroprotection of polyunsaturated fatty acids into lipid droplets in response to increased oxidative stress. Implicated in the pathology of other neurodegenerative diseases, cholesteryl esters appear as attractive targets for further investigations.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aging / metabolism
  • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / genetics
  • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / metabolism
  • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / pathology*
  • Animals
  • Cardiolipins / analysis
  • Cardiolipins / metabolism
  • Cholesterol Esters / analysis
  • Cholesterol Esters / metabolism
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Disease Progression
  • Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / analysis
  • Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / metabolism
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lipid Droplets / pathology
  • Lipid Metabolism / genetics*
  • Lipidomics
  • Male
  • Mass Spectrometry
  • Motor Cortex / metabolism
  • Motor Neurons / chemistry
  • Motor Neurons / metabolism*
  • Mutation
  • Oxidative Stress / genetics
  • Rats
  • Rats, Transgenic
  • Spinal Cord / chemistry
  • Spinal Cord / cytology
  • Spinal Cord / metabolism
  • Spinal Cord / pathology*
  • Superoxide Dismutase-1 / genetics*
  • Superoxide Dismutase-1 / metabolism

Substances

  • Cardiolipins
  • Cholesterol Esters
  • Fatty Acids, Unsaturated
  • SOD1 protein, human
  • Superoxide Dismutase-1