Cell membrane lipidomics: one of the most current and important tools for the molecular health

In recent decades the disciplines related to health and nutrition, thanks to molecular techniques, have made giant leaps forward. Lipidomics is one of them; it is one of the “-omics” disciplines (for example proteomics, genomics) that deal dynamically with the molecules that exist in living organisms.

Lipidomics studies molecules called “lipids”, which contain “fatty acids”, simply called “fats”. These elements are the fundamental constituents of the cell membrane, the envelope that wraps all the cells of our body, and are specific in quantity and quality for each tissue. Cells do not exist without the cell membrane but without fats the cell membrane does not exist. With this premise it is essential to know which and how many fats make up the membranes of our cells, in order to achieve and / or maintain their balance, a necessary condition to allow the efficient functioning of the whole organism.

Fatty acids of the cell membrane

In addition to the circulating fats (triglycerides are the most known), there are fats called phospholipids that are able to combine spontaneously to form the cell membrane. Each phospholipid then has specific structure and functions according to the fats present. The science of fats (lipidomics) dedicated to the cell membrane studies its structure, functions and variations that come about in various physiological and pathological situations.

There are two types of fat molecules:

– saturated fats, characterized by a linear, rigid structure, and can be prepared by the body (therefore be careful not to consume too many with the diet!);

– unsaturated fats, with a characteristic folded shape and in turn divided into two groups: monounsaturated and polyunsaturated (the latter are “the famous Omega”). Monounsaturated fats can also be prepared by the body while polyunsaturated fats are essential fatty acids, that is, Omega-6 and Omega-3 must necessarily be intake with food.

Fats are contained in foods (to find out more click here) as well as they are processed by the metabolism.

The fat composition is therefore a result of how lifestyle, diet and metabolic transformations are combined.

Cell membrane lipidomic analysis

Can we know how many fats and what type we eat with food? And especially if our body has deficiencies or excesses of fat?

Lipidomics has been dedicated to the development of the analysis of the cell membrane; an instrument that determines a real molecular profile (molecular fingerprint) of the individual. A cell representative of all the others present in the body or of the tissues that make up all the organs is required; the scientifically validated cell is the mature red blood cell. From numerous scientific evidences, the red blood cell membrane, having an average life of four months within the body districts, when it reaches 3 months of life is the suitable matrix for giving information on the general state of the individual.

The lipidomic protocol of Lipinutragen

Thanks to the LNG-R1 robotic equipment, unique Italian excellence in the world owned by Lipinutragen, supported in its realization by the CNR Researchers founding members of the Company, it is possible to isolate the reporter cell, meaning the mature red blood cell, without manual intervention. Starting from cell selection (mature erythrocyte), from a blood sample, and by performing operations of separation and chemical transformations, it is possible to obtain the lipidomic profile, that is, the composition in membrane fatty acids. To date, our laboratory is the only one in the world to carry out this sampling and processing process; the result allows the membrane profile to be used as a reliable and repeatable clinical data.[vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”40px”][vc_separator][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1580169543957{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 10px !important;}”]To learn more, we recommend reading:

-> the short interview with Dr. Carla Ferreri >> https://www.lipinutragen.it/cos-e-analisi-lipidomica/

-> the specific article on cell membrane lipidomic analysis >> https://www.lipinutragen.it/en/lipidomic-membrane-analysis/

Article edited by the Lipinutragen Editorial Board

Photo: ©Romolo Tavani | @normaals /123rf.com

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Lipinutragen and advances in the biotech field

Lipinutragen, born in 2005 as a spin-off of the CNR of Bologna and leader for more than 15 years in the field of lipidomics, has developed since its inception the paradigm of the cell membrane of the mature red blood cell as the main marker of individual nutritional and metabolic status.

Lipidomics is a discipline that gathers the study of all lipids and which, focusing on the isolation and analysis of the fatty acids of the cell membrane, has acquired an added value as an evaluation of the basic molecular balance, an essential premise for maintaining the state of well-being.

Experimental and scientific methodology has always been Lipinutragen’s distinctive innovation. With the Lipidomics Laboratory, our Team has developed a very precise analytical process, then perform an automated procedure thanks to a dedicated robotics, LNG-R1, unique in the world. LNG-R1, conceived in 2012, represents the technological innovation in the field of lipidomics: starting from the whole blood sample in EDTA it reaches the separation of the mature red blood cell and its membrane, thus allowing to know the saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids with reliability and repeatability.

The achievement of this important goal has stimulated the continuous growth of the company and the development of activities with a solid scientific basis. Strengthened by this experience, and with the desire to show the scientific rigor and the study of the MEM_LIP1 method, “Test method for the analysis of fatty acids of the erythrocyte membrane”, we have embarked on the accreditation process, in accordance with the UNI CEI EN ISO / IEC 17025 standard “General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories”.

What the accreditation involve?

Accreditation is the official recognition of the competence, independence and impartiality of the laboratory in compliance with specific technical and management system requirements, necessary to offer technically valid results. These requirements are verified and certified by the Single Accreditation Institution, ACCREDIA, designated by the Italian government in application of the European Regulation 765/2008.

ACCREDIA certifies the Lipinutragen method

In May 2020, the ACCREDIA National Single institution issued the certification of laboratory technical competence in Lipinutragen for performing the lipidomic analysis of the mature erythrocyte cell membrane recognizing, with the number 1836 L, conformity with UNI CEI EN ISO / IEC 17025: 2018. The standard defines the requirements that a laboratory must reach to demonstrate the technical competence and independence of its staff and the availability of all technical resources, such as to guarantee data and results that are accurate and reliable for the specific analyzes or tests performed by the laboratory.

Differences between ISO 9001 and ISO / IEC 17025

Process management according to the ISO 9001 and ISO / IEC 17025 quality standards, both safety and reliability indices of the laboratory carrying out the “trial”, is rather common in the testing laboratories. It is therefore necessary to explain the difference between the two rules.

Certification according to ISO 9001, a standard for continuous quality management and improvement, does not constitute evidence that the laboratory is able to provide accurate and reliable tests. To be so, the laboratory must be accredited in accordance with ISO / IEC 17025, which contains more specific requirements for technical competence and impartiality, while also providing requirements for the management of the quality system. The test laboratories accredited by an accreditation institution such as ACCREDIA, signatory of the EA MLA and ILAC MRA * international mutual recognition agreements, guarantee competence in carrying out tests in compliance with international standards and, at the same time, compliance with the principles of ISO 9001.

OUR VISION AFTER ACCREDITATION

The membrane lipidomic analysis is performed with the accredited protocol called MEM_LIP_1, the first in the world to have been accredited STARTING FROM THE WHOLE BLOOD SAMPLE IN EDTA by selecting the mature red blood cells to isolate the membrane and quantify its composition in terms of fatty acids.

Obtaining this recognition reinforces our constant commitment, with the aim of:

– insert the membrane lipidomic analysis in the reference molecular analysis panel both in primary and secondary prevention, to be spread more and more in public and private structures;

– interest Professional and professional Orders towards membrane lipidomic analysis, as a useful tool for clinical and nutritional practice.

*European co-operation for Accreditation (EA) Multilateral Agreement (MLA); International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) Mutual Recognition Arrangements (MRA)

The commitment of the entire Lipinutragen group was rewarded with the acquisition of accreditation. As Scientific Director, I would like to emphasize that accreditation represents our “rod” always pointed upwards, to guarantee the reliability of the lipidomic membrane analysis in respect of patients and the activity of professionals who make use of these molecular results.

Dr. Carla Ferreri, Senior Researcher National Research Council and Scientific Director of Lipinutragen

Photo: 123RF Archivio Fotografico: 135881122 ©bearsky23 /123rf.com

Innovation for the future of personalized medicine

We are pleased to share with you the article “Lipidomics – the future of personalized medicine?” published in Tecan Journal. Two pages dedicated to innovation in the field of cell membrane lipidomics: the LNG-R1 robotics unit.
LNG-R1 robotic unit, designed by Lipinutragen co-founders, CNR Researchers, and produced in collaboration with Tecan, is the only one in the world to carry out cell selection (mature erythrocyte) and chemical transformations from a blood sample, obtaining the lipid profile (i.e. the fatty acid composition).

Why design a robotic unit for lipid analysis?

Reliability, repeatability and high analytical performance are characteristics that only a robotic unit, designed for this purpose, can guarantee. Using robotic equipment, it is possible to carry out precise sampling, which allows the membrane profile to be used as a reliable and repeatable clinical data.

LNG-R1 optimizes and standardizes the machining, processes that the human operator is not able to ensure.

For the complete article visit: https://www.tecan.com/tecan-journal/lipidomics-the-future-of-personalized-medicine or download the pdf

For more information contact us or leave a comment!

Scientific publication
of Carla Ferreri’s research team

Today, 29/08/2017, Scientific Reports (Nature) published the scientific article “High predictive values of RBC membrane-based diagnostics by biophotonics in an integrated approach for Autism Spectrum Disorders”. For the first time, the mature red blood cell membrane is examined by two methods: BIOFOTONICA (hyperspectral microscope examination of light scattered) + LIPIDOMIC (membrane fatty acid composition examination). To put in place, the innovative method described in the scientific work, the research group of Carla Ferreri of the CNR of Research Area in Bologna who has long studied the cell membrane and its state of “balance” as a key element for human health, linked to nutrition and metabolism. They have demonstrated the utility of two combined analytical methods to examine the membrane at a molecular level in detail.

The cell membrane:
key element for human health

“The method highlights ‘spy’ deficiencies in autism at cellular level, but also opens the way to disease-fighting patterns that go through nutrition or nutritional integration,” Carla Ferreri explains and continues. “A great novelty is that red cell membranes have been used, ‘reporter’ cells of the state of the various tissues, such as the nervous one, unreachable in a living being. The red blood cell can be an imbalance signal cell, and the accuracy achieved by the two examinations allows you to evaluate and diagnose the difference between a sick cell and a healthy one. “

The analytical protocol scientifically validated

The analytical protocol was developed by researcher Carla Ferreri, a reference author of scientific work that reports on a group of children diagnosed with autism (very heterogeneous for symptoms) and on healthy children of the same age, through a small withdrawal of 20-30 drops of blood. The multidisciplinary team with bio-chemical aspects of UNIBO (Marini), Clinical-Molecular (Dr. Ghezzo) and Statistical (Bologna district) has done excellent work on autism and the characteristics of erythrocytes (PLOSONE 2013, Disease Markers 2015), in collaboration with the Head of Emilia-Romagna Regional Autism Center, Dr. Paola Visconti of Ospedale Maggiore, Bologna.

What are the perspective and subsequent steps opened with this discovery?
Researchers are already oriented to consider autism from a multidisciplinary and molecular point of view. Indeed, Carla Ferreri continues, “with the publication of these two methods, there is a real chance of monitoring a large number of children, relying on the high predictability of the results obtained but also by the strength of” nutrition in the molecular sense “, as a specific means of addressing the imbalance that characterizes this disease. We recall that children’s metabolic dysfunctions are on the increase, just think of obesity, but at the molecular level it applies very little to what science has already made clear.”

To learn more visit also: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-10361-7