Publications by authors named "Malwina Mainka"

The understanding of the role of LXR in the regulation of macrophages during inflammation is emerging. Here, we show that LXR agonist T09 specifically increases 15-LOX abundance in primary human M2 macrophages. In time- and dose-dependent incubations with T09, an increase of 3-fold for ALOX15 and up to 15-fold for 15-LOX-derived oxylipins was observed.

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Oxylipins are major immunomodulating mediators, yet studies of inflammation focus mainly on cytokines. Here, using a standardized whole-blood stimulation system, we characterized the oxylipin-driven inflammatory responses to various stimuli and their relationships with cytokine responses. We performed a pilot study in 25 healthy individuals using 6 different stimuli: 2 bacterial stimuli (LPS and live BCG), 2 viral stimuli (vaccine-grade poly I:C and live H1N1 attenuated influenza), an enterotoxin superantigen and a Null control.

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Oxylipins derived from the cyclooxygenase (COX) and lipoxygenase (LOX) pathways of the arachidonic acid (ARA) cascade are essential for the regulation of the inflammatory response and many other physiological functions. Comprehensive analytical methods comprised of oxylipin and protein abundance analysis are required to fully understand mechanisms leading to changes within these pathways. Here, we describe the development of a quantitative multi-omics approach combining liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry-based targeted oxylipin metabolomics and proteomics.

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Human alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT) encoded by the gene, is an acute phase glycoprotein that regulates inflammatory responses both protease inhibitory and non-inhibitory activities. We previously reported that AAT controls ATP-induced IL-1β release from human mononuclear cells by stimulating the release of small bioactive molecules. In the current study, we aimed to elucidate the identity of these putative effectors released from human PBMCs in response to AAT, which may inhibit the LPS-induced release of IL-1β.

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Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a complex condition encompassing a constellation of cardiometabolic abnormalities. Oxylipins are a superfamily of lipid mediators regulating many cardiometabolic functions. Plasma oxylipin signature could provide a new clinical tool to enhance the phenotyping of MetS pathophysiology.

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Oxysterols play a key role in many (patho)physiological processes and they are potential biomarkers for oxidative stress in several diseases. Here we developed a rapid gas chromatographic-mass spectrometry-based method for the separation and quantification of 11 biologically relevant oxysterols bearing hydroxy, epoxy, and dihydroxy groups. Efficient chromatographic separation (resolution ≥ 1.

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Neutrophils are key players in inflammation initiation and resolution. Little attention has been paid to the detailed biosynthesis of specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPM) in these cells. We investigated SPM formation in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL), in broken PMNL preparations and recombinant human 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) supplemented with the SPM precursor lipids 15-Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (15-HETE), 18-Hydroxyeicosapentaenoic acid (18-HEPE) or 17-Hydroxydocosahexaenoic acid (17-HDHA).

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Macrophages acquire anti-inflammatory and proresolving functions to facilitate resolution of inflammation and promote tissue repair. While alternatively activated macrophages (AAMs), also referred to as M2 macrophages, polarized by type 2 (Th2) cytokines IL-4 or IL-13 contribute to the suppression of inflammatory responses and play a pivotal role in wound healing, contemporaneous exposure to apoptotic cells (ACs) potentiates the expression of anti-inflammatory and tissue repair genes. Given that liver X receptors (LXRs), which coordinate sterol metabolism and immune cell function, play an essential role in the clearance of ACs, we investigated whether LXR activation following engulfment of ACs selectively potentiates the expression of Th2 cytokine-dependent genes in primary human AAMs.

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Article Synopsis
  • Oxylipins are important lipid molecules that play a role in various physiological processes, and their analysis could enhance our understanding of human health and disease.
  • This study involved five laboratories that followed a standardized protocol to analyze 133 oxylipins, aiming to reduce variability in results.
  • The findings showed that by using this harmonized approach, 73% of oxylipin measurements had a technical variance within ±15%, enabling reliable and comparable results across different labs, particularly for distinguishing between different plasma samples.
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Article Synopsis
  • - Oxidized unsaturated fatty acids, known as eicosanoids and oxylipins, play a key role in various bodily functions including inflammation and blood flow regulation, and are of great interest in clinical lipidomics for their potential as health biomarkers.
  • - This study used liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry to analyze 133 oxylipins in plasma samples, focusing on how sample handling and storage conditions affected their stability and concentration.
  • - Findings showed that adding a radical scavenger improved sample reliability, and while oxylipin levels remained stable under certain conditions, longer storage times led to changes indicating residual enzyme activity, emphasizing the need for careful sample processing.
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Article Synopsis
  • A significant portion of oxygenated metabolites from polyunsaturated fatty acids, like eicosanoids, are found in esterified forms, but their biological functions are not fully understood.
  • Current methods for measuring these esterified oxylipins involve breaking them down into free forms using alkaline hydrolysis, often with lipid extraction, followed by quantification through liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.
  • A detailed protocol for accurately measuring esterified oxylipins in plasma includes lipid extraction, base hydrolysis, and solid phase extraction, with careful attention to solvent choice and hydrolysis conditions to ensure reliable results.
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Article Synopsis
  • Quantitative analysis of oxylipins using chromatography/mass spectrometry relies on accurate external calibration with high-quality standards, which are crucial for obtaining reliable results.
  • Recently introduced certified standards help verify the concentration of these compounds, but they are limited to a small number of oxylipins.
  • The study suggests a tiered validation approach using liquid chromatography and UV spectroscopy to assess non-certified standards, showing that over 50% of these standards can be confirmed, highlighting the need for quality control in oxylipin metabolomics.
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Article Synopsis
  • The infection process begins when macrophages engulf infective promastigotes, but the parasite has evolved ways to manipulate these immune cells.
  • During the study, the team examined how different stages of the parasite produce lipid metabolites and their role in modifying macrophage behavior.
  • Results showed that infective stages increased specific fatty acid metabolites, directing macrophages toward a M2 proresolving phenotype, which suppresses the inflammatory M1 response.
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