Chemistry and biochemistry of 4-hydroxynonenal, malonaldehyde and related aldehydes.

Lipid peroxidation can be described generally as a process under which oxidants such as free radicals attack lipids containing carbon-carbon double bond(s), especially polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). Over the last four decades, an extensive body of literature regarding lipid peroxidation has shown its important role in cell biology and human health. Since the early 1970s, the total published research articles on the topic of lipid peroxidation was 98 (1970–1974) and has been increasing at almost 135-fold, by up to 13165 in last 4 years (2010–2013). New discoveries about the involvement in cellular physiology and pathology, as well as the control of lipid peroxidation, continue to emerge every day. Given the enormity of this field, this review focuses on biochemical concepts of lipid peroxidation, production, metabolism, and signaling mechanisms of two main omega-6 fatty acids lipid peroxidation products: malondialdehyde (MDA) and, in particular, 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (4-HNE), summarizing not only its physiological and protective function as signaling molecule stimulating gene expression and cell survival, but also its cytotoxic role inhibiting gene expression and promoting cell death. Finally, overviews of in vivo mammalian model systems used to study the lipid peroxidation process, and common pathological processes linked to MDA and 4-HNE are shown.

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Lipid peroxidation: production, metabolism, and signaling mechanisms of malondialdehyde and 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the methods used for the qualitative and quantitative determination of aldehydes in biological systems. It focuses on 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE) and malondialdehyde (MDA). 4-Hydroxynonenal is produced as a major product of the peroxidative decomposition of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and possesses cytotoxic, hepatotoxic, mutagenic, and genoroxic properties. Increased levels of HNE are found in plasma and various organs under conditions of oxidative stress. In addition to HNE, lipid peroxidation generates many other aldehydes that may also be of toxicological significance. Malondialdehyde is in many instances the most abundant individual aldehyde resulting from lipid peroxidation, and its determination by thiobarbituric acid (TBA) is one of the most common assays in lipid peroxidation studies. In vitro MDA can alter proteins, DNA, RNA, and many other biomolecules. Recently, it has been demonstrated with monoclonal antibodies that malonaldehyde-altered protein occurs in atheroma of hyperlipidemic rabbits.

Günther Fauler

Papers

Studies on the mechanism of formation of 4-hydroxynonenal during microsomal lipid peroxidation