Fatty Aldehyde Dehydrogenase (ALDH3A2)-Dependent Neutralization of Advanced Lipid Peroxidation End Products (ALEs) at the Bifurcation of Hormetic and Degenerative Pathways in Pancreatic Beta Cells ^†

Hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia synergistically and adversely impair insulin secretion and ultimately lead to pancreatic beta cell decomposition. We found that both nutrient overload conditions displace arachidonic and linoleic acids from membrane phospholipids and subject them to free radical-mediated peroxidation and generation of advanced lipid peroxidation end products (ALEs), of which the aldehyde 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (4-HNE) is prominent. When present at high levels this electrophilic molecule binds covalently to nucleophilic moieties in proteins, phospholipids and nucleic acid, modifies their structure and function and leads to severe cellular dysfunction and apoptosis. However, when present at low and unharmful levels this same molecule activates the nuclear receptor PPARδ and augments insulin secretion. The level of endogenous 4-HNE is determined by the extent of lipid peroxidation on one hand, and by enzymatic neutralization of the aldehyde, on the other. The latter step is mediated by enzymatic processes of which the transformation of the aldehyde to the corresponding inactive carboxylic derivative 4-hydroxy-2-nonenoic acid (4-HNA) is significant. The enzyme responsible for this transformation, which belongs to the large family of aldehyde dehydrogenases and selectively neutralizes fatty acid-derived aldehydes, is ALDH3A2, which is also known as fatty aldehyde dehydrogenase (FALDH). Consequently, we hypothesized that the expression level and function of ALDH3A2 may determine the fate of beta cells under nutrient overload conditions: insufficient neutralization of 4-HNE by the enzyme will lead to cell demise, whereas increased expression and function will extend the adaptive response of beta cells. This adaptive response that is characterized with increased insulin secretion enables effective storage of the nutrient surplus in peripheral tissues and organs while minimizing the dire consequences of the nutrient overload. We aimed at investigating the expression pattern of ALDH3A2 in pancreatic beta cells (the INS-1E cell line) under hyperglycemic condition without or with supplementation with saturated fatty acids (e.g., palmitic acid). Our results show significant glucose- and palmitic acid-dependent induction of ALDH3A2 expression in the cells. We also found that the transformation of palmitic acid (16:1) to mono-unsaturated palmitoleic acid (16:1, cis 9) by the enzyme Stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD1) decreased the burden of the lipid stress on the cells and abrogated the stimulus for the induction of ALDH3A2. Preliminary experiments indicated that the upregulation of the induction of ALDH3A2 was partly induced by PPARδ. These findings correlate to our previous discovery that the hormetic effects of 4-HNE were mediated via activation of this nuclear receptor. In summary, this study assigns a central role to the enzyme ALDH3A2 in the protective mechanism beta cells employ to mitigate detrimental effects of ALEs, and divert them into hormetic agents, that by feedback mechanism through PPARδ increase ALDH3A2 expression.