Fatty acids composition of blood leucocytes mitochondrial membranes in mild and moderate asthma

Relevance. Systemic inflammation in bronchial asthma (BA) is associated with functional changes in subcellular structures, including mitochondria. Therefore, the study of mitochondrial structures is important for understanding the pathophysiological mechanisms of BA formation and progression. The functional activity of mitochondria largely depends on the qualitative and quantitative composition of fatty acids (FAs) of the mitochondrial membrane.

Objective. Establishing the characteristics of the FA composition of the mitochondrial membranes of blood leukocytes in patients with mild and moderate severity of bronchial asthma.

Materials and methods. The study involved 244 patients with BA (131 with mild and 113 with moderate severity) and 60 conditionally healthy individuals. The leukocyte suspension was obtained by Ficoll–Verografin density gradient centrifugation. Mitochondria were isolated from leukocytes by the standard method of differential centrifugation in sucrose medium. Methyl esters of FA were analyzed employing a gas chromatograph. Statistical processing of the results was performed using the STATISTICA 10.0 software package. The critical significance level (p) for testing statistical hypotheses was assumed at p < 0.05.

Results. With mild BA (of controlled and partially controlled course of disease) and with moderate BA of controlled course of disease, a compensatory increase in the summary indicators of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) occurs against the background of a decrease in the amount of saturated fatty acids (SFAs). With partially controlled BA of moderate severity, a breakdown in compensatory capabilities occurs, which is manifested in a decrease in the summary content of MUFAs and n-6 PUFAs. This may indicate both the development of pathological processes underlying BA and the activation of compensatory mechanisms at early stages of the disease.

Conclusions. Changes in the composition of fatty acids of mitochondrial membranes have been revealed in BA depending on the severity and level of disease control. Modification of the mitochondrial fatty acids composition may be an important criterion for assessing the progression of BA.

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