A single extraction 96-well method for LC-MS/MS quantification of urinary eicosanoids, steroids and drugs

Urinary eicosanoid concentrations reflect inflammatory processes in multiple diseases and have been used as biomarkers of disease as well as suggested for patient stratification in precision medicine. However, implementation of urinary eicosanoid profiling in large-scale analyses is restricted due to sample preparation limits. Here we demonstrate a single solid-phase extraction of 300 µL urine in 96-well-format for prostaglandins, thromboxanes, isoprostanes, cysteinyl-leukotriene E4 and the linoleic acid-derived dihydroxy-octadecenoic acids (9,10- and 12,13-DiHOME). A simultaneous screening protocol was also developed for cortisol/cortisone and 7 exogenous steroids as well as 3 cyclooxygenase inhibitors. Satisfactory performance for quantification of eicosanoids with an appropriate internal standard was demonstrated for intra-plate analyses (CV = 8.5-15.1%) as well as for inter-plate (n = 35) from multiple studies (CV = 22.1-34.9%). Storage stability was evaluated at - 20 °C, and polar tetranors evidenced a 50% decrease after 5 months, while the remaining eicosanoids evidenced no significant degradation. All eicosanoids were stable over 3.5-years in urine stored at - 80 °C. This method will facilitate the implementation of urinary eicosanoid quantification in large-scale screening.

Exploration of oxidized phosphocholine profile in non-small-cell lung cancer

Introduction: Lung cancer is one of the most frequently studied types of cancer and represents the most common and lethal neoplasm. Our previous research on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has revealed deep lipid profile reprogramming and redox status disruption in cancer patients. Lung cell membranes are rich in phospholipids that are susceptible to oxidation, leading to the formation of bioactive oxidized phosphatidylcholines (oxPCs). Persistent and elevated levels of oxPCs have been shown to induce chronic inflammation, leading to detrimental effects. However, recent reports suggest that certain oxPCs possess anti-inflammatory, pro-survival, and endothelial barrier-protective properties. Thus, we aimed to measure the levels of oxPCs in NSCLC patients and investigate their potential role in lung cancer. Methods: To explore the oxPCs profiles in lung cancer, we performed in-depth, multi-level metabolomic analyses of nearly 350 plasma and lung tissue samples from 200 patients with NSCLC, including adenocarcinoma (ADC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), the two most prevalent NSCLC subtypes and COPD patients as a control group. First, we performed oxPC profiling of plasma samples. Second, we analyzed tumor and non-cancerous lung tissues collected during the surgical removal of NSCLC tumors. Because of tumor tissue heterogeneity, subsequent analyses covered the surrounding healthy tissue and peripheral and central tumors. To assess whether the observed phenotypic changes in the patients were associated with measured oxPC levels, metabolomics data were augmented with data from medical records. Results: We observed a predominance of long-chain oxPCs in plasma samples and of short-chain oxPCs in tissue samples from patients with NSCLC. The highest concentration of oxPCs was observed in the central tumor region. ADC patients showed higher levels of oxPCs compared to the control group, than patients with SCC. Conclusion: The detrimental effects associated with the accumulation of short-chain oxPCs suggest that these molecules may have greater therapeutic utility than diagnostic value, especially given that elevated oxPC levels are a hallmark of multiple types of cancer.

Metabolomic profile of acute myeloid leukaemia parallels of prognosis and response to therapy

The heterogeneity of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a complex hematological malignancy, is caused by mutations in myeloid cells affecting their differentiation and proliferation. Thus, various cytogenetic alterations in AML cells may be characterized by a unique metabolome and require different treatment approaches. In this study, we performed untargeted metabolomics to assess metabolomics differences between AML patients and healthy controls, AML patients with different treatment outcomes, AML patients in different risk groups based on the 2017 European LeukemiaNet (ELN) recommendations for the diagnosis and management of AML, AML patients with and without FLT3-ITD mutation, and a comparison between patients with FLT3-ITD, CBF-AML (Core binding factor acute myelogenous leukemia), and MLL AML (mixed-lineage leukemia gene) in comparison to control subjects. Analyses were performed in serum samples using liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (LC-MS). The obtained metabolomics profiles exhibited many alterations in glycerophospholipid and sphingolipid metabolism and allowed us to propose biomarkers based on each of the above assessments as an aid for diagnosis and eventual classification, allowing physicians to choose the best-suited treatment approach. These results highlight the application of LC-MS-based metabolomics of serum samples as an aid in diagnostics and a potential minimally invasive prognostic tool for identifying various cytogenetic and treatment outcomes of AML.

Serum metabolomics identified specific lipid compounds which may serve as markers of disease progression in patients with Alström and Bardet-Biedl syndromes

Objectives: Alström syndrome (ALMS) and Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS) are among the so-called ciliopathies and are associated with the development of multiple systemic abnormalities, including early childhood obesity and progressive neurodegeneration. Given the progressive deterioration of patients' quality of life, in the absence of defined causal treatment, it seems reasonable to identify the metabolic background of these diseases and search for their progression markers. The aim of this study was to find metabolites characteristic to ALMS and BBS, correlating with clinical course parameters, and related to the diseases progression. Methods: Untargeted metabolomics of serum samples obtained from ALMS and BBS patients (study group; n = 21) and obese/healthy participants (control group; each of 35 participants; n = 70) was performed using LC-QTOF-MS method at the study onset and after 4 years of follow-up. Results: Significant differences in such metabolites as valine, acylcarnitines, sphingomyelins, phosphatidylethanolamines, phosphatidylcholines, as well as lysophosphatidylethanolamines and lysophosphatidylcholines were observed when the study group was compared to both control groups. After a follow-up of the study group, mainly changes in the levels of lysophospholipids and phospholipids (including oxidized phospholipids) were noted. In addition, in case of ALMS/BBS patients, correlations were observed between selected phospholipids and glucose metabolism parameters. We also found correlations of several LPEs with patients' age (p < 0.05), but the level of only one of them (hexacosanoic acid) correlated negatively with age in the ALMS/BBS group, but positively in the other groups. Conclusion: Patients with ALMS/BBS have altered lipid metabolism compared to controls or obese subjects. As the disease progresses, they show elevated levels of lipid oxidation products, which may suggest increased oxidative stress. Selected lipid metabolites may be considered as potential markers of progression of ALMS and BBS syndromes.

In Vitro Animal Model for Estimating the Time since Death with Attention to Early Postmortem Stage

Estimating the postmortem interval (PMI) has remained the subject of investigations in forensic medicine for many years. Every kind of death results in changes in metabolites in body tissues and fluids due to lack of oxygen, altered circulation, enzymatic reactions, cellular degradation, and cessation of anabolic production of metabolites. Metabolic changes may provide markers determining the time since death, which is challenging in current analytical and observation-based methods. The study includes metabolomics analysis of blood with the use of an animal model to determine the biochemical changes following death. LC-MS is used to fingerprint postmortem porcine blood. Metabolites, significantly changing in blood after death, are selected and identified using univariate statistics. Fifty-one significant metabolites are found to help estimate the time since death in the early postmortem stage. Hypoxanthine, lactic acid, histidine, and lysophosphatidic acids are found as the most promising markers in estimating an early postmortem stage. Selected lysophosphatidylcholines are also found as significantly increased in blood with postmortal time, but their practical utility as PMI indicators can be limited due to a relatively low increasing rate. The findings demonstrate the great potential of LC-MS-based metabolomics in determining the PMI due to sudden death and provide an experimental basis for applying this attitude in investigating various mechanisms of death. As we assume, our study is also one of the first in which the porcine animal model is used to establish PMI metabolomics biomarkers.

The Beneficial Effect of Cinnamon and Red Capsicum Intake on Postprandial Changes in Plasma Metabolites Evoked by a High-Carbohydrate Meal in Men with Overweight/Obesity

The relationship of high-carbohydrate (HC) meal intake to metabolic syndrome is still not fully explained. Metabolomics has the potential to indicate metabolic pathways altered by HC meals, which may improve our knowledge regarding the mechanisms by which HC meals may contribute to metabolic syndrome development. The fasting and postprandial metabolic response to HC or normo-carbohydrate (NC) meals with/without cinnamon + capsicum intake was evaluated using untargeted metabolomics and compared between normal-weight (NW) and overweight/obese (OW/OB) healthy men. Healthy male participants (age-matched) were divided into two groups (12 subjects per group). One was composed of men with normal weight (NW) and the other of men with overweight/obesity (OW/OB). On separate visits (with 2-3 week intervals), the participants received standardized HC or NC meals (89% or 45% carbohydrates, respectively). Fasting (0 min) and postprandial (30, 60, 120, 180 min) blood were collected for untargeted plasma metabolomics. Based on each metabolic feature's intensity change in time, the area under the curve (AUC) was calculated. Obtained AUCs were analyzed using multivariate statistics. Several metabolic pathways were found dysregulated after an HC meal in people from the OW/OB group but not the NW group. The consumption of HC meals by people with overweight/obesity led to a substantial increase in AUC, mainly for metabolites belonging to phospholipids and fatty acid amides. The opposite was observed for selected sphingolipids. The intake of cinnamon and capsicum normalized the concentration of selected altered metabolites induced by the intake of HC meals. A HC meal may induce an unfavourable postprandial metabolic response in individuals with overweight/obesity, and such persons should avoid HC meals.

Optimization of a GC-MS method for the profiling of microbiota-dependent metabolites in blood samples: An application to type 2 diabetes and prediabetes

Changes in serum or plasma metabolome may reflect gut microbiota dysbiosis, which is also known to occur in patients with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Thus, developing a robust method for the analysis of microbiota-dependent metabolites (MDMs) is an important issue. Gas chromatography with mass spectrometry (GC–MS) is a powerful approach enabling detection of a wide range of MDMs in biofluid samples with good repeatability and reproducibility, but requires selection of a suitable solvents and conditions. For this reason, we conducted for the first time the study in which, we demonstrated an optimisation of samples preparation steps for the measurement of 75 MDMs in two matrices. Different solvents or mixtures of solvents for MDMs extraction, various concentrations and volumes of derivatizing reagents as well as temperature programs at methoxymation and silylation step, were tested. The stability, repeatability and reproducibility of the 75 MDMs measurement were assessed by determining the relative standard deviation (RSD). Finally, we used the developed method to analyse serum samples from 18 prediabetic (PreDiab group) and 24 T2DM patients (T2DM group) from our 1000PLUS cohort. The study groups were homogeneous and did not differ in age and body mass index. To select statistically significant metabolites, T2DM vs. PreDiab comparison was performed using multivariate statistics. Our experiment revealed changes in 18 MDMs belonging to different classes of compounds, and seven of them, based on the SVM classification model, were selected as a panel of potential biomarkers, able to distinguish between patients with T2DM and prediabetes.

Femoral neck fracture is accompanied by local changes in the content of transforming growth factor-beta1, interleukin-1beta and collagenase activity

The aim of the study was to evaluate the relationship between the time from femoral neck fracture and the content of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1), interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) and collagenase activity in bone samples of the femoral neck. The material consisted of 42 cancellous bone samples from the femoral neck collected from patients after the femoral neck fracture during hip replacement procedure. The content of TGF-beta1, IL-1beta in bone samples was measured with the use of enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) and collagenase activity was measured with spectrofluorimetry. The mean content of TGF-beta1/total protein was 2.29 pg/microg (range from 0.9 to 4.0). The mean content of IL-1beta was 4.93 fg/microg (range from 1.4 to 12.5). The mean activity of collagenase was 49.08 nU/microg (range from 5.6 to 113.7). The content of TGF-beta1 and IL-1beta decreased after the injury. In case of TGF-beta1 the difference was statistically significant (p<0.05). The activity of collagenase was statistically significantly increasing in relation to time from the fracture (p<0.05). We found no correlation between the content of TGF- beta1, IL-1beta and the activity of collagenase and the age and the sex of the patients. Also, no significant discrepancies were found between the examined cytokines in relation to the bone loss of the femoral neck according to Singh's scale. These results confirm mutual changes of activity between examined cytokines in the area of fractured bone.