Ether Glycerophospholipids and Their Potential as Therapeutic Agents

Su      Chen; Chengchu      Liu

Abstract

Ether glycerophospholipids (GPLs) are a subclass of phospholipids, chemically characterized by the existence of an ether bond within the lipid molecules. Because ether GPLs are membrane structure components, they act as the wide-like resistance to membrane oxidation induced by chemical hypoxia and reactive oxygen species. The abnormal biosynthesis of ether GPLs in humans leads to the decreased supply of the critical lipids to various human cells, resulting in the alteration of the membrane lipid composition. Recent studies demonstrated that the level of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) – containing ether molecular species of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and phosphatidylcholine (PC) in the Alzheimer’s brain significantly decreased. On the other hand, the deficiency of DHA and plateletactivating factor in human sperm causes infertility in men. We propose that the supplementation of DHA ether molecular species of GPLs may prevent and treat brain disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease and autism, and infertility. The present review describes (1) procedures for the semi–synthesis of DHA – containing ether molecular species of PC and PE; (2) mass spectrometric methods for structurally identifying the lipids; (3) potential of DHA plasmanycholine species as lipid drugs for preventing and treating brain diseases and infertility; and (4) recommendation of marine oysters, monkfish liver and scallops based seafoods as DHA ether GPLs supplementation for the medical application.

Keywords: Ether glycerophospholipids, docosahexaenoic acid, molecular nutrition, Alzheimer’s disease, autism, infertility.

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