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Fatty Acid Signaling Mechanisms in Neural Cells: Fatty Acid Receptors.

ABSTRACT: Fatty acids (FAs) are typically associated with structural and metabolic roles, as they can be stored as triglycerides, degraded by ?-oxidation or used in phospholipids' synthesis, the main components of biological membranes. It has been shown that these lipids exhibit also regulatory functions in different cell types. FAs can serve as secondary messengers, as well as modulators of enzymatic activities and substrates for cytokines synthesis. More recently, it has been documented a direct activity of free FAs as ligands of membrane, cytosolic, and nuclear receptors, and cumulative evidence has emerged, demonstrating its participation in a wide range of physiological and pathological conditions. It has been long known that the central nervous system is enriched with poly-unsaturated FAs, such as arachidonic (C20:4?-6) or docosohexaenoic (C22:6?-3) acids. These lipids participate in the regulation of membrane fluidity, axonal growth, development, memory, and inflammatory response. Furthermore, a whole family of low molecular weight compounds derived from FAs has also gained special attention as the natural ligands for cannabinoid receptors or key cytokines involved in inflammation, largely expanding the role of FAs as precursors of signaling molecules. Nutritional deficiencies, and alterations in lipid metabolism and lipid signaling have been associated with developmental and cognitive problems, as well as with neurodegenerative diseases. The molecular mechanism behind these effects still remains elusive. But in the last two decades, different families of proteins have been characterized as receptors mediating FAs signaling. This review focuses on different receptors sensing and transducing free FAs signals in neural cells: (1) membrane receptors of the family of G Protein Coupled Receptors known as Free Fatty Acid Receptors (FFARs); (2) cytosolic transport Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins (FABPs); and (3) transcription factors Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors (PPARs). We discuss how these proteins modulate and mediate direct regulatory functions of free FAs in neural cells. Finally, we briefly discuss the advantages of evaluating them as potential targets for drug design in order to manipulate lipid signaling. A thorough characterization of lipid receptors of the nervous system could provide a framework for a better understanding of their roles in neurophysiology and, potentially, help for the development of novel drugs against aging and neurodegenerative processes.

SUBMITTER: Falomir-Lockhart LJ

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6491900 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Fatty Acid Signaling Mechanisms in Neural Cells: Fatty Acid Receptors.

Falomir-Lockhart Lisandro Jorge LJ Cavazzutti Gian Franco GF Giménez Ezequiel E Toscani Andrés Martín AM

Frontiers in cellular neuroscience 20190424

Fatty acids (FAs) are typically associated with structural and metabolic roles, as they can be stored as triglycerides, degraded by β-oxidation or used in phospholipids' synthesis, the main components of biological membranes. It has been shown that these lipids exhibit also regulatory functions in different cell types. FAs can serve as secondary messengers, as well as modulators of enzymatic activities and substrates for cytokines synthesis. More recently, it has been documented a direct activit ...[more]

PMID: 31105530

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Project description:Fatty acid synthase (FASN), the key enzyme for endogenous synthesis of fatty acids, is overexpressed and hyperactivated in a biologically aggressive subset of sex steroid-related tumors, including breast carcinomas. Using pharmacological and genetic approaches, we assessed the molecular relationship between FASN signaling and estrogen receptor alpha (ER?) signaling in breast cancer. The small compound C75, a synthetic slow-binding inhibitor of FASN activity, induced a dramatic augmentation of estradiol (E2)-stimulated, ER?-driven transcription. FASN and ER? were both necessary for the synergistic activation of ER? transcriptional activity that occurred following co-exposure to C75 and E2: first, knockdown of FASN expression using RNAi (RNA interference) drastically lowered (>100 fold) the amount of E2 required for optimal activation of ER?-mediated transcriptional activity; second, FASN blockade synergistically increased E2-stimulated ER?-mediated transcriptional activity in ER?-negative breast cancer cells stably transfected with ER?, but not in ER?-negative parental cells. Non-genomic, E2-regulated cross-talk between the ER? and MAPK pathways participated in these phenomena. Thus, treatment with the pure antiestrogen ICI 182?780 or the potent and specific inhibitor of MEK/ERK, U0126, was sufficient to abolish the synergistic nature of the interaction between FASN blockade and E2-stimulated ER? transactivation. FASN inhibition suppressed E2-stimulated breast cancer cell proliferation and anchorage-independent colony formation while promoting the reduction of ER? protein. FASN blockade resulted in the increased expression and nuclear accumulation of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors p21WAF1/CIP1 and p27Kip1, two critical mediators of the therapeutic effects of antiestrogen in breast cancer, while inactivating AKT, a key mediator of E2-promoted anchorage-independent growth. The ability of FASN to regulate E2/ER? signaling may represent a promising strategy for anticancer treatment involving a new generation of FASN inhibitors.

Dataset Information

Fatty Acid Signaling Mechanisms in Neural Cells: Fatty Acid Receptors.

Publications

Fatty Acid Signaling Mechanisms in Neural Cells: Fatty Acid Receptors.

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