Alkylglycerol monooxygenase represses prostanoid biosynthesis in a sex-dependent manner

Abstract Background Ether lipids are important constituents of biological membranes and harbor fatty alcohols attached via ether linkages to the sn-1 position of the glycerol backbone. Depending on the nature of the ether bond, they are subdivided into 1-O-alkyl (plasmanyl) and 1-O-alk-1′-enyl (plas...

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Main Authors: Zhigang Rao, Katharina Lackner, Ilaria Dorigatti, Natascha Brigo, Denise Kummer, Minh Bui Hoang, Christa Pfeifhofer-Obermair, Günter Weiss, Ernst R. Werner, Andreas Koeberle, Katrin Watschinger
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-06-01
Series:Cell & Bioscience
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13578-025-01419-5
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author Zhigang Rao
Katharina Lackner
Ilaria Dorigatti
Natascha Brigo
Denise Kummer
Minh Bui Hoang
Christa Pfeifhofer-Obermair
Günter Weiss
Ernst R. Werner
Andreas Koeberle
Katrin Watschinger
author_facet Zhigang Rao
Katharina Lackner
Ilaria Dorigatti
Natascha Brigo
Denise Kummer
Minh Bui Hoang
Christa Pfeifhofer-Obermair
Günter Weiss
Ernst R. Werner
Andreas Koeberle
Katrin Watschinger
author_sort Zhigang Rao
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Ether lipids are important constituents of biological membranes and harbor fatty alcohols attached via ether linkages to the sn-1 position of the glycerol backbone. Depending on the nature of the ether bond, they are subdivided into 1-O-alkyl (plasmanyl) and 1-O-alk-1′-enyl (plasmenyl) subclasses. They often contain polyunsaturated fatty acids at the sn-2 position, implicating them in cellular signaling and inflammatory processes including lipid mediator biosynthesis. Lipid mediators are produced by immune and non-immune cells, have diverse homeostatic and immunoregulatory functions and, together with other factors, orchestrate the initiation and resolution of inflammation. To date, alkylglycerol monooxygenase is the only known enzyme capable of cleaving alkylglycerols, one of two ether lipid subclasses. However, the exact role of alkylglycerol monooxygenase and that of its substrates in lipid mediator biosynthesis remains unclear. Results Using a knockout mouse model, we demonstrate a sex- and cell type-dependent role of alkylglycerol monooxygenase in limiting prostanoid formation without affecting polyunsaturated fatty acid release, as revealed by metabololipidomics profiling of lipid mediators using ultra-performance liquid chromatography‒tandem mass spectrometry. This female-specific effect is driven by the suppression of prostaglandin G/H synthase 2 transcription, as deficiency in alkylglycerol monooxygenase significantly elevated prostaglandin G/H synthase 2 gene expression in female bone marrow-derived macrophages of the M1 phenotype. Furthermore, this regulatory role of alkylglycerol monooxygenase extends to visceral white adipose tissue, where elevated prostaglandin G/H synthase 2 expression and enhanced prostaglandin E2 production were observed in female samples following alkylglycerol monooxygenase knockout. Conclusion Our results expand the immunomodulatory functions of ether lipid metabolism and highlight the sex- and cell type-dependent role of alkylglycerol monooxygenase in controlling lipid mediator production and maintaining tissue homeostasis.
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spelling doaj-art-5416db866d224ac1b90cfffe0a2d2fd12025-08-20T03:26:47ZengBMCCell & Bioscience2045-37012025-06-0115111710.1186/s13578-025-01419-5Alkylglycerol monooxygenase represses prostanoid biosynthesis in a sex-dependent mannerZhigang Rao0Katharina Lackner1Ilaria Dorigatti2Natascha Brigo3Denise Kummer4Minh Bui Hoang5Christa Pfeifhofer-Obermair6Günter Weiss7Ernst R. Werner8Andreas Koeberle9Katrin Watschinger10Michael Popp Institute and Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI), University of InnsbruckInstitute of Human Genetics, Medical University of InnsbruckInstitute of Molecular Biochemistry, Biocenter, Medical University of InnsbruckDepartment of Internal Medicine II, Medical University of InnsbruckInstitute of Molecular Biochemistry, Biocenter, Medical University of InnsbruckMichael Popp Institute and Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI), University of InnsbruckDepartment of Internal Medicine II, Medical University of InnsbruckDepartment of Internal Medicine II, Medical University of InnsbruckInstitute of Molecular Biochemistry, Biocenter, Medical University of InnsbruckMichael Popp Institute and Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI), University of InnsbruckInstitute of Molecular Biochemistry, Biocenter, Medical University of InnsbruckAbstract Background Ether lipids are important constituents of biological membranes and harbor fatty alcohols attached via ether linkages to the sn-1 position of the glycerol backbone. Depending on the nature of the ether bond, they are subdivided into 1-O-alkyl (plasmanyl) and 1-O-alk-1′-enyl (plasmenyl) subclasses. They often contain polyunsaturated fatty acids at the sn-2 position, implicating them in cellular signaling and inflammatory processes including lipid mediator biosynthesis. Lipid mediators are produced by immune and non-immune cells, have diverse homeostatic and immunoregulatory functions and, together with other factors, orchestrate the initiation and resolution of inflammation. To date, alkylglycerol monooxygenase is the only known enzyme capable of cleaving alkylglycerols, one of two ether lipid subclasses. However, the exact role of alkylglycerol monooxygenase and that of its substrates in lipid mediator biosynthesis remains unclear. Results Using a knockout mouse model, we demonstrate a sex- and cell type-dependent role of alkylglycerol monooxygenase in limiting prostanoid formation without affecting polyunsaturated fatty acid release, as revealed by metabololipidomics profiling of lipid mediators using ultra-performance liquid chromatography‒tandem mass spectrometry. This female-specific effect is driven by the suppression of prostaglandin G/H synthase 2 transcription, as deficiency in alkylglycerol monooxygenase significantly elevated prostaglandin G/H synthase 2 gene expression in female bone marrow-derived macrophages of the M1 phenotype. Furthermore, this regulatory role of alkylglycerol monooxygenase extends to visceral white adipose tissue, where elevated prostaglandin G/H synthase 2 expression and enhanced prostaglandin E2 production were observed in female samples following alkylglycerol monooxygenase knockout. Conclusion Our results expand the immunomodulatory functions of ether lipid metabolism and highlight the sex- and cell type-dependent role of alkylglycerol monooxygenase in controlling lipid mediator production and maintaining tissue homeostasis.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13578-025-01419-5AGMOEther lipidLipidomicsLipid mediatorPolyunsaturated fatty acid
spellingShingle Zhigang Rao
Katharina Lackner
Ilaria Dorigatti
Natascha Brigo
Denise Kummer
Minh Bui Hoang
Christa Pfeifhofer-Obermair
Günter Weiss
Ernst R. Werner
Andreas Koeberle
Katrin Watschinger
Alkylglycerol monooxygenase represses prostanoid biosynthesis in a sex-dependent manner
Cell & Bioscience
AGMO
Ether lipid
Lipidomics
Lipid mediator
Polyunsaturated fatty acid
title Alkylglycerol monooxygenase represses prostanoid biosynthesis in a sex-dependent manner
title_full Alkylglycerol monooxygenase represses prostanoid biosynthesis in a sex-dependent manner
title_fullStr Alkylglycerol monooxygenase represses prostanoid biosynthesis in a sex-dependent manner
title_full_unstemmed Alkylglycerol monooxygenase represses prostanoid biosynthesis in a sex-dependent manner
title_short Alkylglycerol monooxygenase represses prostanoid biosynthesis in a sex-dependent manner
title_sort alkylglycerol monooxygenase represses prostanoid biosynthesis in a sex dependent manner
topic AGMO
Ether lipid
Lipidomics
Lipid mediator
Polyunsaturated fatty acid
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13578-025-01419-5
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