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Serum fatty acid composition may be altered in patients with myositis
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Patients with polymyositis and dermatomyositis had an altered serum fatty acid profile compared with healthy control participants, and immunosuppression further altered the fatty acid profile, according to data presented at the European League Against Rheumatism Annual European Congress of Rheumatology.
Serum samples were collected from 14 patients with polymyositis or dermatomyositis (PM / DM) and from 12 healthy participants. Lipids were extracted from the samples using liquid-liquid extraction. Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectroscopy was used to identify the composition of fatty acids, including triacylglycerols, phospholipids, sphingolipids and lysophospholipids. Serum samples from eight patients with myositis were analyzed using identical methods both before initiating immunosuppression and 6 months later.
Levels of palmitic acid was significantly higher in patients with PM / DM, whereas significantly lower levels of arachidonic acid were observed, according to the researchers.
The total levels of lipid classes were not altered by immunosuppression, but the levels of phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine and lysophosphatidylcholine were significantly higher after 6 months of immunosuppressive therapy.
“Lipid dysregulation might lead to generation of lipotoxic mediators, which contribute to cell dysfunction or death,” the researchers concluded. “These findings indicate that FA metabolism might be deregulated in PM and DM patients and may be further affected by immunosuppressive treatment.” – by Shirley Pulawski
Reference:
Raouf J, et al. Paper #AB0201. Presented at: European League Against Rheumatism Annual European Congress of Rheumatology; June 10-13, 2015; Rome.
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.