CHOLINE PHOSPHOLIPIDS - MOLECULAR MECHANISMS FOR HUMAN-DISEASES - A MEETING REPORT

Choline phospholipids have long been recognized as important structura l components of membranes. There is a growing body of evidence that so me choline phospholipids (phosphatidylcholine, sphingomyelin, plasmalo gens, and their metabolites) also are important mediators and modulato rs of transmembrane signaling. Another choline phospholipid (platelet activating factor) is an important intercellular messenger acting on l eukocytes, platelets, smooth muscle cells, liver, uterus, and the cent ral nervous system. These functions may explain how choline phospholip ids, such as lecithin, influence normal physiological processes as wel l as a diverse group of pathological processes, including cancer and A lzheimer's disease. Recent findings on the molecular actions of cholin e phospholipids were presented by leading experts in the field at a co nference sponsored by the University of North Carolina and held in con junction with the annual meeting of American Institute of Nutrition in April 1992. This review provides general background on choline and ph ospholipids in nutrition, metabolism, and signal transduction, and hig hlights the findings presented at this conference.