The opportunities of cell renewal

With the advancement of knowledge in molecular medicine, it has been assessed that genetic inheritance is not everything.

In fact, although familiarity -that is, what is written in the DNA- can predispose an individual toward certain dysfunctions or diseases, it has been established that there is a high probability of avoiding them through appropriate lifestyle and nutritional choices.

In this perspective that is called “epigenetics” (i.e., “above genetics”) there is another cellular structure, equally necessary for life, which is the cell membrane with its set of molecules called LIPIDS (i.e., PHOSPHOLIPIDS) that give it its shape and functions.

The strength of the membrane lies in the TURNOVER of its lipid elements: turnover means that at every moment of our lives “old or used” lipids are cleared and “new” lipids come in. This process is key to keeping the cell active and alert to stimuli, ready to respond to and protect cellular functions of all tissues. The turnover must occur continuously and constantly, and each tissue has its own “turnover time,” i.e., there are tissues with turnover of only a few hours or a few days, as well as tissues that renew membrane lipids after several weeks or only out of “necessity.”

As in any function of our body, it may happen that turnover slows down or does not occur in the right way, and this is reflected in the slowing down of cell functions or in general malfunction of cellular processes.

Scientists who have studied cell membrane most extensively since the 1960s are now the promulgators of the so-called LIPID REPLACEMENT THERAPY , according to which fatty acids can be used as therapeutic elements to correct unbalances of membrane composition (excesses or deficiencies) through supplementation. Scientists at the CNR in Bologna have developed this THERAPY in a personalized way, that is, by performing a molecular analysis to define the membrane lipid status and determine the correction according to the patient’s need.

The lipid rebalancing strategy acts deeply within the cellular organization because it affects:

1) membrane biophysical properties, such as fluidity, presence and distribution of specialized zones for the assembly of protein complexes (called lipid rafts)

2) the localization and activity of membrane proteins;

3) the biological activity that arises from the detachment of membrane lipids and the formation in the cell of lipid mediators derived from omega-6 and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids.

The membrane-lipid replacement therapy induces rebalancing in signaling and gene expression, thus helping to modulate cellular response in disease states.

CELL TURNOVER

Fatty acid supplementation to rebalance membrane composition takes advantage of the natural turnover of cells and tissues. When a new cell is formed, in fact, its membrane is also formed with fatty acids from diet or metabolism. Acting on these two aspects through ad hoc supplementation aims to promote the formation of a functioning and balanced membrane as far as lipid composition is concerned.

The opportunity for rebalancing is provided by cell turnover times that vary according to cell type.

In fact, our organism is made up of cells:

– with a high turnover rate, which replicate periodically, such as those of the epidermis, gastro-intestinal mucosa, respiratory mucosa, urogenital mucosa, bone marrow-derived cells , etc.

– with a slow turnover rate, which are able to replicate when tissue damage occurs, such as hepatocytes, endothelial cells, muscle cells, osteoblasts.

– unable to replicate, which cannot be replaced, such as nerve cells, heart muscle cells, and female gametes.

source: http://book.bionumbers.org/how-quickly-do-different-cells-in-the-body-replace-themselves

Continuously renewing tissues are those that most readily renew their membranes as new cells are formed through the incorporation of lipids provided by diet or supplementation.

MUCOSAL AND IMMUNITY CELLS ARE THE MAIN TARGETS OF LIPID THERAPY

An estimated 300 billion cells are renewed every day [*]. Erythrocytes, neutrophils, and gastro-intestinal mucosal cells make up for the 96% of the total daily turnover.

From the combination of average life span and cell mass, the weight of renewed cells per day is calculated as 80g, divided into:

– 40% cells of the gastro-intestinal epithelium

– 23% cells of the innate immunity (neutrophils and monocytes)

– 5% cells of epidermis and respiratory mucosaLooking at these numbers, we can say that fatty acids introduced through diet or supplementation will form, from day 1, the membranes of the new cells in the intestinal, skin, respiratory tracts. Also, fatty acids will rapidly renew the membranes of the immune cells that are predominantly located in the mucosae where they act as a defense outpost in case of passage of harmful external agents (GALT- gut associated lymphoid tissue)

In other words, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in the lipid supplement capsule are the active substances that will be inserted into the cell membrane of tissues with faster turnovers (defense cells, epithelia). This way they will be able to affect

– the barrier function of mucosae: proper membrane composition will allow epithelial cells to maintain an intact structure that is selectively permeable to substances, also through the maintenance of cell-cell junctions during normal tissue turnover.

– the immune defense and the inflammatory response: defense and epithelial cells form lipid mediators (inflammatory, anti-inflammatory, and resolving mediators) that must be in balance with each other in order to protect against external agents, when necessary, without establishing immune hyper-activation and a state of chronic inflammation.

In case of inflammatory bowel or dermatological diseases, mucosae have faster cell turnovers, precisely for self-defense. This feature can be exploited to make lipid replacement therapy more effective. Indeed, patients refer significant improvements from the very first weeks of ad hoc lipid supplementation.

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Article by the editorial team of Lipinutragen

The information given must in no way replace the direct relationship between health professional and patient.
The food recommendations in the article are not intended as a substitute for a personalized meal plan and are to be adapted to specific cases.

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Bibliography

[*] Sender, R., Milo, R. The distribution of cellular turnover in the human body. Nat Med 27, 45–48 (2021)

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For more on LIPIMAGAZINE:

Fats and epithelial cell balance

THE SKIN-INTESTINE RELATIONSHIP

Why LIPIDOMIC MEMBRANE analysis IS NOT A HOAX

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Photo: 123RF Archivio Fotografico: 84511256 : ©drmicrobe

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WHAT ARE FATS NEDEED FOR?

It is expected that to this question, we all answer: fats constitute our energy reserves (and we must do everything to burn them because they make us fat).

In reality this is an (inexact) answer that hides a purely anthropocentric point of view since it responds rather to the question “what fats do in the human body?”.

From an evolutionary point of view, the biochemistry of fats (lipids) teaches us that their first role is to delimit spaces by isolating them from the external aqueous medium. The chemical structure, in fact, makes them little or nothing similar to water and, for this reason, they tend to aggregate into spherical structures, delimiting an internal space separated from the outside.

This is most likely the purpose for which the first single-celled organisms began to synthesize the molecules of fats: to isolate themselves from the external environment they needed to create a lipid membrane.

CONSEQUENTLY, THE FATTY ACIDS ARE IMPORTANT FOR LIFE FIRST OF ALL AS ESSENTIAL CONSTITUENTS OF CELL MEMBRANES.

FATS, ELEMENTS OF THE CELL MEMBRANE

Without the membrane there can be no life and each membrane derive from another pre-existing one. The membrane perpetuates itself eternally. But this is not the case with regard to its composition.

While, in fact, bacteria and plants can synthesize all de novo membrane lipids from non-lipid sources, animals, as well as humans, can only synthesize saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega-3 and -6) instead depend on the diet, which is why they are called essential.

Therefore, precisely due to dependence on the usual diet, the composition of cell membranes can vary considerably from normal values ​​over the life of the individual [*]. The percentage variations (in excess or defect) of the fatty acids of the cell membrane can therefore compromise normal cell metabolism.

THE PATH OF FATS: FROM THE DIET TO THE CELL MEMBRANE

Fats represent a large part of the nutrients we take in our diet. These molecules become part of the cell membrane.

The direct link between diet, membrane composition and cellular function is therefore evident. By analyzing the composition of the membrane, and any imbalances, it is possible to “read” how the individual’s diet affects his cellular health.

Many metabolic processes depend on the type of fat in the cell membranes. Specifically, the various families of fatty acids, by regulating

• directly or indirectly, the expression of DNA (on/off)
• inflammatory processes (activation and resolution through the biosynthesis of lipid signaling molecules)
• the chemical-physical properties of the membrane

in fact, they influence and intercede in all phases of proliferation and metabolism of all tissues.

THE ADVANTAGES OF THE CELL MEMBRANE

When necessary, the lipid rebalancing of the cell membrane exploits two principles:

– the normal cell turnover in the body: when a new cell is formed, the composition of the membrane will depend on the available fatty acids;

– the continuous remodeling of the membrane: every external signal that reaches the cell surface is “translated” and shift inside, through the release of fatty acids from the membrane which are immediately replaced.

Therefore, while a person’s DNA cannot be modified, the rebalancing of the membrane is possible and obtainable in a few months by studying, in a personalized way, the intake of fatty acids from the diet and from supplementation. Obtaining the balanced composition of the membrane represents the starting point for having an excellent cellular function and consequently acting on the metabolism of the whole organism.

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Bibliographical references:

[*] Ferreri C, Chatgilialoglu C (2012) Expert Rev. Mol. Diagn. 12 (7), 767-780
Ferreri C et al. (2017) Diagnostics 7, 1

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Article by the editorial team of Lipinutragen
The information given should in no way replace the direct relationship between health professional and patient.

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Photo: 123RF Archivio Fotografico: 159448847 : ©topvector / 123rf.com ; 126145270 : ©designua / 123rf.com

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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.”

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