Lipid metabolism in lung.Regulation by androgens ortrace elements

NIDIA NOEMÍ GOMEZ1, MARÍA VERÓNICA PÉREZ CHACA1 AND MARIA SOFIAGIMENEZ

Advances in Lipid Metabolism,

Research Signpost

Lugar: Kerala India; Año: 2008; p. 193 - 206

Abstract The alveolar surfaces of the lungs are lined with a lipid-protein complex called pulmonary surfactant. Surfactant is a mixture of lipids and proteins synthesized by alveolar epithelial type II cells. It is known that phospholipids and triglycerides (TAG) are metabolically interconnected by common lipid intermediates, which are exchanged in a recycling pathway that could be potentially relevant. Moreover, enzymes for both pathways are subjected to common Correspondence/Reprint request: Dra. Nidia N. Gómez, Dra. Maria Sofía Gimenez, Laboratorio de Bioquímica Molecular, Universidad Nacional de San Luis, Chacabuco y Pedernera. 5700, San Luis, Argentina E-mail: ngomez@unsl.edu.ar or mgimenez@unsl.edu.ar transcriptional regulation. However, little is known about the mechanism of potential co-regulation of TAG and phospholipids metabolism. Changes in the level of phospholipids would compromise the integrity and function of cell membranes, because these mainly depend on the lipid balance, especially on the cholesterol /phospholipids ratio. Regarded cholesterol enhances the stability of surfactant and controls the fluidity of the gas/liquid monomolecular layer. It may also influence the rate of synthesis of the surfactant phospholipids. Fatty acid synthesis also is under complex hormonal and nutritional control. An abnormal surfactant also appears to be an important characteristic of the adult respiratory distress syndrome. Different hormones as testosterone or the level of micronutrientes changed the composition of surfactant. In this way, the level of androgens and/or micronutrientes implications must be taken into account in order to design therapies and public health interventions for high-risk subjects.