Neural Effects of Estrogen on Mitochondrial Lipids and Cardiolipin Levels and Distribution

Abstract

A variety of lipid classes play important roles in neuronal structure and function. One of these lipids is cardiolipin, a phospholipid exclusive to the mitochondria and important to processes such as mitophagy and apoptosis through its differential oxidation. Estradiol (E2), a steroid sex hormone, is known to exert antioxidant effects in various cell types. I will establish a baseline lipidome in a line of neural cells and use E2-treatment conditions to determine if estrogen antioxidant effects are mediated through lipids, with a particular focus on cardiolipin. The results could contribute to understanding how hormonal changes can impact neural cell health and neurodegeneration.