A comparison of four liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry platforms for the analysis of zeranols in urine

Complementary dual-modal immunosensing strategy for accurate detecting zearalenone based on bimetallic NiFe-Prussian blue analogue

In this work, a complementary dual-modal immunosensing strategy was fabricated for the sensitive and selective detection of zearalenone (ZEN) by integrating immunochromatographic and electrochemical biosensing methods. For this, bimetallic NiFe Prussian blue analogue (NiFe-PBA) was simultaneously employed as a matrix for labelling ZEN-targeted antibody and the sensitive layer for anchoring antibody to construct an efficient immunochromatographic immunosensor (ICI) and electrochemical immunosensor (ECI), respectively. Due to porous network, good functionality, high bioaffinity, and rich metal redox, NiFe-PBA-based complementary dual-modal immunosensor exhibited low limit of detection, high selectivity and stability, and accepted practicality. Particularly, the developed ECI illustrated fast response, portability, and potentially commercial application. Coupling the ICI and ECI sensing strategy can markedly enhance the accuracy and sensitive detection of ZEN in complicated environments. This dual-modal ICI-ECI immunosensing strategy exhibits significant potential for the precise detection of mycotoxin in various agricultural products and improve the quality control for foods.

Mycoestrogen Exposure during Pregnancy: Impact of the ABCG2 Q141K Variant on Birth and Placental Outcomes

BACKGROUND

Zearalenone (ZEN) is an estrogenic mycotoxin ("mycoestrogen") that contaminates global grain crops leading to detectable concentrations of ZEN and its metabolites, including the synthetic version α -zearalanol (also called zeranol; ZER), in human populations. Despite in vitro and in vivo animal evidence of endocrine disruption by ZEN, there has been limited investigation in humans.

OBJECTIVES

To examine markers of fetal growth following prenatal exposure to ZEN and evaluate the role of the placental efflux transporter BCRP/ABCG2 in protecting against ZEN's potential fetoplacental toxicity.

METHODS

Placentas were collected from participants (n = 271 ) in the Understanding Pregnancy Signals and Development cohort (Rochester, New York, USA). Placental ZEN and its metabolites were analyzed from tissue samples using HPLC-MS. Birth weights and placental weights were obtained from medical records and direct measurement, respectively; fetoplacental weight ratio (FPR) was calculated by dividing birth weight by placental weight. Covariate-adjusted generalized linear regression models were used to examine ZEN, ZER, and total mycoestrogens (sum of ZEN, ZER, and their metabolites) in relation to birth length, birth weight, placental weight and FPR. We additionally stratified models by infant sex and ABCG2 C421A (Q141K) genotype.

RESULTS

Mycoestrogens were detected in 84% of placentas (median ZEN: 0.010  ng / g ) and total mycoestrogens were associated with lower FPR [- 0.20 ; 95% confidence interval (CI): - 0.32 , - 0.08 ], particularly in female infants (- 0.31 ; 95% CI: - 0.52 , - 0.09 ). Associations with birth weight were inverse and overall nonsignificant. Among the 17% of participants with the reduced function 421A ABCG2 variant (AA or AC), total mycoestrogens were associated with lower birth weight (- 113.5 g ; 95% CI: - 226.5 , - 0.50 ), whereas in wild-type individuals, total mycoestrogens were associated with higher placental weight (9.9; 95% CI: 0.57, 19.2) and reduced FPR (- 0.19 ; 95% CI: - 0.33 , - 0.05 ).

DISCUSSION

Results from this epidemiological study of prenatal mycoestrogen exposure and perinatal health suggest that mycoestrogens may reduce placental efficiency, resulting in lower birth weight, particularly in female and ABCG2 421A infants. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP14478.

Sociodemographic and dietary predictors of maternal and placental mycoestrogen concentrations in a US pregnancy cohort

BACKGROUND

Zearalenone (ZEN) is a mycotoxin contaminating grains and processed foods. ZEN alters nuclear estrogen receptor α/β signaling earning its designation as a mycoestrogen. Experimental evidence demonstrates that mycoestrogen exposure during pregnancy is associated with altered maternal sex steroid hormones, changes in placental size, and decreases in fetal weight and length. While mycoestrogens have been detected in human biospecimens worldwide, exposure assessment of ZEN in US populations, particularly during pregnancy, is lacking.

OBJECTIVE

To characterize urinary and placental concentrations of ZEN and its metabolites in healthy US pregnant people and examine demographic, perinatal, and dietary predictors of exposure.

METHODS

Urine samples were collected in each trimester from pregnant participants in the UPSIDE study and placenta samples were collected at delivery (Rochester, NY, n = 317). We used high performance liquid chromatography and high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry to measure total urinary (ng/ml) and placental mycoestrogens (ng/g). Using linear regression and linear mixed effect models, we examined associations between mycoestrogen concentrations and demographic, perinatal, and dietary factors (Healthy Eating Index [HEI], ultra-processed food [UPF] consumption).

RESULTS

Mycoestrogens were detected in 97% of urines (median 0.323 ng/ml) and 84% of placentas (median 0.012 ng/g). Stability of urinary mycoestrogens across pregnancy was low (ICC: 0.16-0.22) and did not correlate with placental levels. In adjusted models, parity (multiparous) and pre-pregnancy BMI (higher) predicted higher urinary concentrations. Birth season (fall) corresponded with higher placental mycoestrogens. Dietary analyses indicated that higher HEI (healthier diets) predicted lower exposure (e.g., Σmycoestrogens %∆ -2.03; 95%CI -3.23, -0.81) and higher percent calories from UPF predicted higher exposure (e.g., Σmycoestrogens %∆ 1.26; 95%CI 0.29, 2.24).

IMPACT

The mycotoxin, zearalenone (ZEN), has been linked to adverse health and reproductive impacts in animal models and livestock. Despite evidence of widespread human exposure, relatively little is known about predictors of exposure. In a pregnant population, we observed that maternal ZEN concentrations varied by maternal pre-pregnancy BMI and parity. Consumption of ultra-processed foods, added sugars, and refined grains were linked to higher ZEN concentrations while healthier diets were associated with lower levels. Our research suggests disparities in exposure that are likely due to diet. Further research is needed to understand the impacts of ZEN on maternal and offspring health.

Urinary mycoestrogens and gestational weight gain in the UPSIDE pregnancy cohort

BACKGROUND

Zearalenone (ZEN), a secondary metabolite of Fusarium fungi, is one of the most common mycotoxins in global food supplies such as cereal grains and processed food. ZEN and its metabolites are commonly referred to as mycoestrogens, due to their ability to directly bind nuclear estrogen receptors α (ER-α) and β (ER-β). Zeranol, a synthetic mycoestrogen, is administered to U.S. cattle as a growth promoter. Despite widespread human exposure and ample evidence of adverse reproductive impacts in vitro and in vivo, there has been little epidemiological research on the health impacts of ZEN exposure during pregnancy. The objective of our study was to examine associations between ZEN and gestational weight gain (GWG).

METHODS

Urine samples were collected in each trimester from pregnant participants in the UPSIDE cohort (n = 286, Rochester, NY, USA). High performance liquid chromatography and high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry were used to quantify concentrations of ZEN as well as ∑mycoestrogens (composite sum of ZEN metabolites; ng/ml). Maternal weights at clinical visits were abstracted from medical records. We fitted longitudinal models of specific-gravity adjusted, log-transformed ZEN and ∑mycoestrogens in relation to total GWG (kilograms) and GWG rate (kilograms/week). We additionally examined risk of excessive GWG (in relation to Institute of Medicine guidelines) and considered effect modification by fetal sex.

RESULTS

ZEN and ∑mycoestrogens were detected in > 93% and > 95% of samples, respectively. Mycoestrogen concentrations were positively associated with total GWG (ZEN β:0.50 kg; 95%CI: 0.13, 0.87) and GWG rate (ZEN β:0.20 kg/week; 95%CI: 0.01, 0.03). Associations tended to be stronger among participants carrying male (versus female) fetuses and results were robust to adjustment for diet.

CONCLUSIONS

Mycoestrogen exposure during pregnancy may contribute to greater GWG. Future research is needed to understand potential influences on downstream maternal and offspring health.

Associations between mycoestrogen exposure and sex steroid hormone concentrations in maternal serum and cord blood in the UPSIDE pregnancy cohort

Zearalenone (ZEN) is a fungal-derived toxin found in global food supplies including cereal grains and processed foods, impacting populations worldwide through diet. Because the chemical structure of ZEN and metabolites closely resembles 17β-estradiol (E2), they interact with estrogen receptors α/β earning their designation as 'mycoestrogens'. In animal models, gestational exposure to mycoestrogens disrupts estrogen activity and impairs fetal growth. Here, our objective was to evaluate relationships between mycoestrogen exposure and sex steroid hormone concentrations in maternal circulation and cord blood for the first time in humans. In each trimester, pregnant participants in the UPSIDE study (n = 297) provided urine for mycoestrogen analysis and serum for hormone analysis. At birth, placental mycoestrogens and cord steroids were measured. We fitted longitudinal models examining log-transformed mycoestrogen concentrations in relation to log-transformed hormones, adjusting for covariates. Secondarily, multivariable linear models examined associations at each time point (1st, 2nd, 3rd trimesters, delivery). We additionally considered effect modification by fetal sex. ZEN and its metabolite, α-zearalenol (α-ZOL), were detected in >93% and >75% of urine samples; >80% of placentas had detectable mycoestrogens. Longitudinal models from the full cohort exhibited few significant associations. In sex-stratified analyses, in pregnancies with male fetuses, estrone (E1) and free testosterone (fT) were inversely associated with ZEN (E1 %Δ: -6.68 95%CI: -12.34, -0.65; fT %Δ: -3.22 95%CI: -5.68, -0.70); while α-ZOL was positively associated with E2 (%Δ: 5.61 95%CI: -1.54, 9.85) in pregnancies with female fetuses. In analysis with cord hormones, urinary mycoestrogens were inversely associated with androstenedione (%Δ: 9.15 95%CI: 14.64, -3.30) in both sexes, and placental mycoestrogens were positively associated with cord fT (%Δ: 37.13, 95%CI: 4.86, 79.34) amongst male offspring. Findings support the hypothesis that mycoestrogens act as endocrine disruptors in humans, as in animal models and livestock. Additional work is needed to understand impacts on maternal and child health.

Special Issue with Research Topics on "Recent Analysis and Applications of Mass Spectra on Biochemistry"

Analytical mass spectrometry applies irreplaceable mass spectrometric (MS) methods to analytical chemistry and chemical analysis, among other areas of analytical science [...].

Untargeted Plasma Metabolomic Profiling in Patients with Depressive Disorders: A Preliminary Study

Depressive disorder is a multifactorial disease that is based on dysfunctions in mental and biological processes. The search for biomarkers can improve its diagnosis, personalize therapy, and lead to a deep understanding of the biochemical processes underlying depression. The purpose of this work was a metabolomic analysis of blood serum to classify patients with depressive disorders and healthy individuals using Compound Discoverer software. Using high-resolution mass spectrometry, blood plasma samples from 60 people were analyzed, of which 30 were included in a comparison group (healthy donors), and 30 were patients with a depressive episode (F32.11) and recurrent depressive disorder (F33.11). Differences between patient and control groups were identified using the built-in utilities in Compound Discoverer software. Compounds were identified by their accurate mass and fragment patterns using the mzCloud database and tentatively identified by their exact mass using the ChemSpider search engine and the KEGG, ChEBI, FDA UNII-NLM, Human Metabolome and LipidMAPS databases. We identified 18 metabolites that could divide patients with depressive disorders from healthy donors. Of these, only two compounds were tentatively identified using the mzCloud database (betaine and piperine) based on their fragmentation spectra. For three compounds ((4S,5S,8S,10R)-4,5,8-trihydroxy-10-methyl-3,4,5,8,9,10-hexahydro-2H-oxecin-2-one, (2E,4E)-N-(2-hydroxy-2-methylpropyl)-2,4-tetradecadienamide and 17α-methyl-androstan-3-hydroxyimine-17β-ol), matches were found in the mzCloud database but with low score, which could not serve as reliable evidence of their structure. Another 13 compounds were identified by their exact mass in the ChemSpider database, 9 (g-butyrobetaine, 6-diazonio-5-oxo-L-norleucine, 11-aminoundecanoic acid, methyl N-acetyl-2-diazonionorleucinate, glycyl-glycyl-argininal, dilaurylmethylamine, 12-ketodeoxycholic acid, dicetylamine, 1-linoleoyl-2-hydroxy-sn-glycero-3-PC) had only molecular formulas proposed, and 4 were unidentified. Thus, the use of Compound Discoverer software alone was not sufficient to identify all revealed metabolites. Nevertheless, the combination of the found metabolites made it possible to divide patients with depressive disorders from healthy donors.

Optimized extraction and analysis methods using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry for zearalenone and metabolites in human placental tissue

Zearalenone and its metabolites, a group of endocrine disrupting mycotoxins, have been linked to adverse reproductive health effects. They cross the placental barrier, potentially reaching the fetus. In this study, we adapted and optimized our protocol previously used for urine, to measure these mycotoxins in human placentas. We combined a supported liquid extraction step using Chem Elut cartridges with solid phase extraction on Discovery® DSC-NH2 tubes. The optimized extraction efficiencies were between 68 and 80% for all metabolites. Analysis was performed by UHPLC-HRMS using a Betasil™ Phenyl-Hexyl column eluted with a gradient of acetonitrile-methanol-water. The chromatography method separated all analytes in under 15 min. Validation experiments confirmed the method's sensitivity, with LODs ranging from 0.0055 to 0.011 pg/mg tissue. The method was linear over a range of 0.0025-1.5 pg/mg tissue with R2 values ≥ 0.994. Precision and accuracy calculations ranged from 4.7-7.9% and 0.6-6.7% respectively. The method was then successfully applied to a subset of placenta samples (n = 25) collected from an ongoing prospective birth cohort. Interestingly, 92% of the samples contained at least one measurable zearalenone metabolite, providing initial indication of potentially widespread exposure during pregnancy.