Correlating mono- and bilayers of lipids to investigate the pronounced effects of steroid hormone 17 alpha-ethynylestradiol on membrane models of DPPC/cholesterol

Author(s)

Marques Ruiz, Gilia Cristine ^[1] ; Pazin, Wallance Moreira ^[1] ; do Carmo Morato, Luis Fernando ^[1] ; Oliveira Jr, Osvaldo N. ; Leopoldo Constantino, Carlos Jose ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Sao Paulo State Univ UNESP, Sch Technol & Appl Sci, Dept Phys, Presidente Prudente, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR LIQUIDS; v. 311, AUG 1 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Risks to human health have been reported owing to prolonged exposure to hormones, whose action depends on their molecular-level interaction with cell membranes. In this study, we investigate the interaction of the synthetic hormone 17 a-ethynylestradiol (EE2) in two different membrane models, Langmuir monolayers and giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) made with a binary mixture of 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycerol-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) and cholesterol (Chol) in order to mimic the plasma membrane of mammalian cells. EE2 was found to expand the Langmuir monolayers, with shifts to larger areas per molecule in the surface pressure isotherm. In all of these observations, stronger effects were noted for the DPPC/Chol monolayers with X-Chol = 0.3, which mimics the proportion of phospholipid/sterol in the plasma membrane. At high surface pressures, EE2 is believed to weaken the attractive interactions between DPPC and Chol, in addition to affecting the ordering of the lipid chains as indicated in polarization-modulated infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (PM-IRRAS) measurements. In GUVs obtained with X-Chol = 0.3 mixtures, EE2 induced a phase contrast loss as a result of increased permeability of the lipid bilayer. The results with Langmuir monolayers and GUV combined point to EE2 action on representative cell membranes, which can be correlated with physiological effects caused by indirect intake of EE2. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 13/14262-7 - Nanostructured films from biologically-relevant materials
• Grantee: Osvaldo Novais de Oliveira Junior
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 16/09633-4 - Mechanism of action of the bioactive compound Artepillin C in membrane biomimetic systems and cytoplasmic membrane of tumor cells
• Grantee: Wallance Moreira Pazin
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral