Lipid in immunity

Briill F, Mensink RP, Plat J (2009) Plant sterols functional lipids in immune function and inflammation Future Lipidology 4(3) 355-365. doi 10.2217/CLP.09.26... 

ROLE OF LIPIDS IN IMMUNITY LIPIDS PLAY A ROLE IN IMMUNITY BY INFLUENCING THE PROPERTIES OF MEMBRANES IN CELLS OF THE IMMUNE SYSTEM AND BY ACTING AS PRECURSORS OF REGULATORY SUBSTANCES... 

Theoretically, this appears to be a htting solution to gene problems. However, there are problems, such as immune and inflammation responses, toxicity, and means to target the intended cells. Non viral vectors may overcome the problems with viral delivery agents. Lipids, in the form of liposomes and other lipid complexes, are being studied. Injection of DNA directly into a patient s muscle cells is another avenue being researched. 

Chemical - complex formation. Earlier we discussed the complexation which can occur between the chelating agent EDTA and heavy metals or the sequestration of lipids in cholestyramine resins. The immune system has antibody-antigen complexes formed which can help in the elimination of the antigen (xenobiotic). 

CHOLESTEROL AND LIPIDS IN DEPRESSION STRESS, HYPOTHALAMO-PITUITARY-ADRENOCORTICAL AXIS, AND INFLAMMATION/IMMUNITY... 

A. H. Stolpen, D. E. Golan, and J. S. Pober, Tumor necrosis factor and immune interferon act in concert to slow the lateral diffusion of proteins and lipids in human endothelial cell membranes, J. Cell Biol. 707 781-789 (1988). 

Irritant dermatitis does not involve an immune response and is typically caused by contact with corrosive substances that exhibit extremes of pH, oxidizing capability, dehydrating action, or tendency to dissolve skin lipids. In extreme cases of exposure, skin cells are destroyed and a permanent scar results. This condition is known as a chemical burn. Exposure to concentrated sulfuric acid, which exhibits extreme acidity, or to concentrated nitric acid, which denatures skin protein, can cause bad chemical bums. The strong oxidant action of 30% hydrogen peroxide likewise causes a chemical bum. Other chemicals causing chemical bums include ammonia, quicklime (CaO), chlorine, ethylene oxide, hydrogen halides, methyl bromide, nitrogen oxides, elemental white phosporous, phenol, alkali metal hydroxides (NaOH, KOH), and toluene diisocyanate. 

However, the degree of accumulation of liposomes in tumour tissue depends on their blood circulation time. In order to maximise the accumulation of liposomes, and thus boron, in the tumour, liposomes with long survival time in systemic circulation, should be employed. The liposomal circulation time may be dramatically increased by attachment of long flexible polyethylene glycol (PEG) chains to a proportion of the lipids in the liposomal membrane. Such sterically stabilised liposomes have been shown to circulate for several days, up to a week, without detection by the immune system. 

In the present report, the use of radioiodinated diazotized iodosulfa-nilic acid and a lactoperoxidase-catalyzed iodination method for the labeling and examination of plasma membrane proteins and lipids in cells under humoral immune attack is described. 

De Pablo, M.A. and De Cienfuegos, G.A. 2000. Modulatory effects of dietary lipids in the immune system. Immunol. Cell. Biol. 78, 31. 

---