LC-MS/MS quantitation of plasma progesterone in cattle

Quantitation of progesterone (P₄) in biological fluids is often performed by radioimmunoassay (RIA), whereas liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) has been used much less often. Due to its autoconfirmatory nature, LC-MS/MS greatly minimizes false positives and interference. Herein we report and compare with RIA an optimized LC-MS/MS method for rapid, efficient, and cost-effective quantitation of P₄ in plasma of cattle with no sample derivatization. The quantitation of plasma P₄ released from three nonbiodegradable, commercial, intravaginal P₄-releasing devices (IPRD) over 192 h in six ovariectomized cows was compared in a pairwise study as a test case. Both techniques showed similar P₄ kinetics (P > 0.05) whereas results of P₄ quantitation by RIA were consistently higher compared with LC-MS/MS (P < 0.05) due to interference and matrix effects. The LC-MS/MS method was validated according to the recommended analytical standards and displayed P₄ limits of detection (LOD) and quantitation (LOQ) of 0.08 and a 0.25 ng/mL, respectively. The high selective LC-MS/MS method proposed herein for P₄ quantitation eliminates the risks associated with radioactive handling; it also requires no sample derivatization, which is a common requirement for LC-MS/MS quantitation of steroid hormones. Its application to multisteroid assays is also viable, and it is envisaged that it may provide a gold standard technique for hormone quantitation in animal reproductive science studies.     

Development of an LC-MS/MS method for the simultaneous quantification of aripiprazole and dehydroaripiprazole in human plasma

A selective, sensitive, and accurate liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method for the simultaneous determination of aripiprazole and its active metabolite dehydroaripiprazole in human plasma has been developed using papaverine as internal standard (IS). LC-MS/MS analysis was carried out on a Finnigan LC-TSQ Quantum mass spectrometer using positive ion electrospray ionization (ESI⁺) and selected reaction monitoring (SRM). The assays for aripiprazole and dehydroaripiprazole were linear over the ranges of 0.1 to 600 ng/ml and 0.01 to 60 ng/ml, respectively. The average recoveries in plasma samples both were better than 85%. The intra- and interrun precision and accuracy values were found to be within the assay variability criteria limits according to the US Food and Drug Administration guidelines. The developed method was proved to be suitable for use in a clinical pharmacokinetic study after a single oral administration of a 5-mg aripiprazole tablet in healthy Chinese volunteers.     

Analysis of glucosinolates, isothiocyanates, and amine degradation products in vegetable extracts and blood plasma by LC-MS/MS

Dietary glucosinolates are under intensive investigation as precursors of cancer-preventive isothiocyanates. Quantitation of the dose and bioavailability of glucosinolates and isothiocyanates requires a comprehensive analysis of the major dietary glucosinolates, isothiocyanates, and related metabolites. We report a liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometric detection (LC-MS/MS) analytical method for the comprehensive analysis of the seven major dietary glucosinolates, related isothiocyanates, and putative amine degradation products. The parent glucosinolates were sinigrin, gluconapin, progoitrin, glucoiberin, glucoraphanin, glucoalyssin, and gluconasturtiin. The LC-MS/MS analysis method for these compounds was developed and validated; a standard addition analysis protocol was used generally to avoid the requirement for stable isotopic standards. Where stable isotopic standards were available, internal standardization with these gave estimates in agreement with those obtained by the standard addition analysis protocol. For glucosinolates, negative ion electrospray LC-MS/MS analysis was performed. Isothiocyanates and amines were prederivatized to the corresponding thiourea and N-acetamides, respectively, and were quantified by positive ion electrospray LC-MS/MS. The limits of detection were 0.5-2 pmol; the recoveries for glucosinolates, isothiocyanates, and amines were 85-90%, 50-85%, and 60-70%, respectively; and the intra- and interbatch coefficients of variation were 1-4% and 3-10%, respectively. These methods provide facile access to comprehensive analytical data on the major dietary glucosinolates and related metabolites to quantify inputs and metabolic formation of these compounds in cancer prevention and related studies.     

Quantification of angiotensin-converting-enzyme-mediated degradation of human chemerin 145-154 in plasma by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Chemerin is a chemoattractive protein acting as a ligand for the G-protein-coupled receptor ChemR23/CMKLR1 and plays an important role in the innate and adaptive immunity. Proteolytic processing of its C terminus is essential for receptor binding and physiological activity. Therefore, we investigated the plasma stability of the decapeptide chemerin 145-154 (P(145)-F(154)) corresponding to the C terminus of the physiologically active chemerin variant E(21)-F(154) from human hemofiltrate. For monitoring concentration-time profiles and degradation products we developed a novel matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry procedure using an internal peptide standard (hemorphin LVV-H7) for quantification. The linear range covers 2.5 orders of magnitude in the lower micromolar concentration range (lower limit of quantification 0.312 microg/ml, 0.25 microM) characterized by satisfactory reproducibility (CV < or =9%), accuracy (< or =10%), ruggedness, and recovery (98%). We found that chemerin 145-154 is C-terminally truncated in human citrate plasma by the cleavage of the penultimate dipeptidyl residue. N-terminal truncation was not observed. In contrast to citrate plasma, no degradation was detected in ethylenediammetetraacetate (EDTA) plasma. We identified angiotensin-converting-enzyme (ACE) to be responsible for C-terminal truncation, which could be completely inhibited by EDTA and captopril. These results are relevant to clarify the natural processing of chemerin and the potential involvement of ACE in mediating the immune response.     

Clinical validation of an immunoaffinity LC-MS/MS assay for the quantification of a collagen type II neoepitope peptide: A biomarker of matrix metalloproteinase activity and osteoarthritis in human urine

The degradation of type II collagen has been associated with the pathology of osteoarthritis (OA). Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are enzymes that are responsible for catalyzing the degradation of collagen and, therefore, are pursued as potential targets for the treatment of OA. Collagen-derived peptides identified as a reflection of in vivo MMP activity have been investigated as target biomarkers of MMP activity as well as potential biomarkers of OA disease state and/or progression. An immunoaffinity liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) assay developed for the quantification of the most abundant urinary type II collagen neoepitope (uTIINE) peptide, a 45-mer with 5 HO-proline residues resulting from MMP-13-catalyzed degradation, was validated for clinical use. Validation experiments were designed with attention to specific challenges related to quantification of endogenous analytes. The validated method is sensitive, selective, accurate (<15% relative error) and precise (<15% coefficient of variation) over a linear range of 0.156-7.50 ng/ml. Sample stability and inter- and intrasubject variability were evaluated in the urine of normal and OA populations. The method was applied to analyze human urine samples from clinical studies investigating the utility of uTIINE as a potential biomarker for OA.     

LC-MS/MS检测癫痫患者神经递质类氨基酸

目的：建立液相色谱串联质谱同位素内标法检测神经递质类氨基酸并用于癫痫患者临床评价。方法：选用AAA-C18柱色谱柱,以乙腈水（含有0.01%七氟丁酸、0.1%甲酸）为流动相,采用梯度洗脱进行分离,血浆样品用iTRAQ-115衍生化试剂处理后,加入iTRAQ-114衍生化的氨基酸内标并进样,选用3200QTRAP型质谱仪的多重反应监测（MRM）扫描方式进行检测。疾病组与健康组的统计采用t检验和主成份分析。结果：疾病组和健康组氨基酸测定结果显示：Trp、GABA两组间没有显著性差异（P〉0.05）,Arg、Gly、Ser、Tau、Asp、Glu、EtN、两组间有显著性差异（P〈0.05）,通过PCA分析显示,疾病组与健康组之间差异明显,Asp、Glu、Ser等是引起差异的主要氨基酸。结论：试验方法灵敏、专属性强,并初步的用于癫痫患者体内氨基酸评价。     

LC-MS/MS法测定大鼠血浆中的野黄芩苷含量

目的:建立LC-MS/MS的分析方法测定大鼠血浆中的野黄芩苷,研究灯盏生脉胶囊中野黄芩苷在大鼠体内的药动学行为。方法:以噻氯匹定为内标,血浆样品经1%甲酸乙腈沉淀蛋白处理后,用LC-MS/MS法测定血浆中的野黄芩苷浓度。结果:野黄芩苷线性范围为1.31～670.00 ng·mL-1(γ0.999),最低定量浓度为1.31 ng·mL-1,回收率、日内、日间考察均符合生物样品分析要求。实验结果显示,野黄芩苷在大鼠体内出现多峰现象。结论:建立的LC-MS/MS定量分析方法灵敏、准确,可用于大鼠血浆中野黄芩苷的测定及其药代动力学研究。     

An LC-MS/MS method for determination of forsythiaside in rat plasma and application to a pharmacokinetic study

A highly sensitive liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric (LC-MS/MS) method was developed for the determination of forsythiaside in rat plasma using epicatechin as internal standard. The analytes were extracted by solid-phase extraction and chromatographied on a C₁₈ column eluted with a gradient mobile phase of acetonitrile and water both containing 0.2% formic acid. The detection was performed by negative ion electrospray ionization in multiple reaction monitoring mode, monitoring the transitions m/z 623 → 161 and m/z 289 → 109 for forsythiaside and epicatechin, respectively. The assay was linear over the concentration ranges of 2.0–50.0 and 50.0–5000.0 ng/mL with limits of detection and quantification of 0.2 and 1.0 ng/mL, respectively. The precision was <10.8% and the accuracy was >91.9%, and extraction recovery ranged from 81.3% to 85.0%. This method was successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study of forsythiaside in rats after intravenous (20 mg/kg) and oral (100 mg/kg) administration, and the result showed that the compound was poorly absorbed with an absolute bioavailability being approximately 0.5%.     

Development and validation of Lenalidomide in human plasma by LC-MS/MS

A highly sensitive and ultra-fast high performance liquid chromatography- tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) assay is developed and validated for the quantification of Lenalidomide in human plasma. Lenalidomide is extracted from human plasma by Liquid- Liquid Extraction by Ethyl Acetate and analyzed using a reversed phase isocratic elution on a XTerra RP18, (4.6 × 50 mM, 5 µm) column. A 0.1% Formic acid: Methanol (10:90% v/v), is used as mobile phase and detection was performed by Triple quadrupole mass spectrometry LC-MS/MS using electrospray ionization in positive mode. Fluconazole is used as the internal standard. The lower limit of quantification is 9.999 ng/mL for Lenalidomide. The calibration curves are consistently accurate and precise over the concentration range of 9.999 to 1010.011 ng/mL in plasma for Lenalidomide. This novel LC–MS/MS method competes with all the regulatory requirements and shows satisfactory accuracy and precision and is sufficiently sensitive for the performance of pharmacokinetic and bioequivalence studies in humans.     

Phase separation liquid-liquid extraction for the quantification of 8-iso-Prostaglandin F2 Alpha in human plasma by LC-MS/MS

BackgroundReactive oxygen species (ROS) are produced in the body during normal metabolism by means of enzymes and non-enzymatic chemical reduction of molecular oxygen. In case of the prevalence of ROS formation over their elimination, highly reactive free radicals can be accumulated and can cause multiple damages to the biomolecules and cells. Determination of isoprostanes in biological matrices is most often used to register free radical damage and requires selective, sensitive and specific techniques.MethodsThis study presents the development and validation of the LC-MS/MS method for the determination of 8-iso-Prostaglandin F2α in human plasma utilising a modified liquid-liquid extraction procedure with phase separation.ResultsModified sample preparation procedure assured higher extraction yield, clear separation of organic layer from the plasma water phase and protein precipitates, and better-purified product for instrumental analysis. Linearity was validated in the range 0.1-5.0 µg/L with R2 > 0.996; normalised matrix varied between 86.0% and 108.3%, accuracy ranged from 90.4 % to 113.9% and precision both within runs and between runs was less than 7%. With a run time of 10 min, a throughput of over 50 samples per working day could be performed.ConclusionsThe method meets all the current industrial validation criteria and allows the accurate and precise determination of 8-iso-PGF2α in human plasma at diagnostically significant concentration range.     

LC-MS/MS分析人支气管上皮细胞与烟曲霉共培养模型中胶霉毒素的含量

目的：采用液相色谱-串联质谱法（LC-MS/MS）分析人支气管上皮细胞与烟曲霉共培养模型中胶霉毒素的含量。方法建立人支气管上皮细胞与烟曲霉共培养模型并于不同时间段检测共培养模型中胶霉毒素的含量。以支气管上皮细胞单独培养为对照组,分别于12h、24h、36h收集对照组、AF293（烟曲霉标准株）共培养组、AFB5233WT（烟曲霉野生株）及AFB5233ΔGlip（烟曲霉胶霉毒素基因敲除株）共培养组细胞培养上清液,采用LC-MS/MS检测胶霉毒素的含量。结果共培养模型中胶霉毒素水平随培养时间增加而逐渐升高（P〈005）,胶霉毒素回收率为687%~726%。结论该方法快速、灵敏、结果准确,适用于测定人支气管上皮细胞与烟曲霉共培养模型中胶霉毒素的含量。     

高效液相色谱-串联质谱分析微量格尔德霉素类似物

安莎类抗生素例如利福霉素和安丝菌素,通常由一组化学结构相似的组分组成。格尔德霉素为苯安莎类抗生素,已经发现4个组分。本研究采用高效液相色谱-串联质谱方法对格尔德霉素(GDM)制品中的微量组分进行了分析,发现5个新的和1个已知的GDM类似物。依据质谱数据、结合GDM生物合成机制,对6个GDM类似物的化学结构进行了推测:分子式为C29H42N2O10的新化合物3个,分别为GDM安莎链上C2-C3、C4-C5和C8-C9之间的C-C双键变为单键并同时单羟基化的GDM衍生物;分子式为C28H38N2O8的新化合物2个,其中1个为17(或12,或4)-去甲氧基格尔德霉素,另1个为4,5-双氢-10,11-脱水-17-去甲基-17-羟基格尔德霉素;分子式为C29H42N2O9的已知化合物1个,为4,5-双氢格尔德霉素。这些GDM类似物的发现有助于加深对GDM生物合成的认识,并对通过基因阻断、组合生物合成技术获得GDM衍生物的研究有启示作用。     

LC-MS/MS 法测定人血浆中伊伐布雷定浓度及药动学

目的:建立人血浆中伊伐布雷定的液相色谱-质谱-质谱联用测定方法,研究健康人体药代动力学.方法:以地西泮为内标物,采用液相色谱-质谱-质谱联用法,电喷雾电离源选择性正离子峰检测.测30名健康志愿者单剂量口服盐酸伊伐布雷定片的体内血药浓度,获得药动学参数.结果:伊伐布雷定在0.101-101 ng·mL-1浓度范围内呈良好的线性关系(r=0.998),最低检测浓度为0.101 ng·mL-1.高、中、低浓度的方法提取回收率分别为93.2%、86.6%、87.5%,日内、日间精密度RSD均小于15%.结论:LC-MS/MS方法灵敏度高,专属性强,准确,简便,适用于盐酸伊伐布雷定片的人体药代动力学研究.     

Optimization of protein solubilization for the analysis of the CD14 human monocyte membrane proteome using LC-MS/MS

Proteomic profiling of membrane proteins is of vital importance in the search for disease biomarkers and drug development. However, the slow pace in this field has resulted mainly from the difficulty to analyze membrane proteins by mass spectrometry (MS). The objective of this investigation was to explore and optimize solubilization of membrane proteins for shotgun membrane proteomics of the CD14 human monocytes by examining different systems that rely on: i) an organic solvent (methanol) ii) an acid-labile detergent 3-[3-(1,1-bisalkyloxyethyl)pyridin-1-yl]propane-1-sulfonate (PPS), iii) a combination of both agents (methanol + PPS). Solubilization efficiency of different buffers was first compared using bacteriorhodopsin as a model membrane protein. Selected approaches were then applied on a membrane subproteome isolated from a highly enriched human monocyte population that was ~ 98% positive for CD14 expression as determined by FACS analysis. A methanol-based buffer yielded 194 proteins of which 93 (48%) were mapped as integral membrane proteins. The combination of methanol and acid-cleavable detergent gave similar results; 203 identified proteins of which 93 (46%) were mapped integral membrane proteins. However, employing PPS 216 proteins were identified of which 75 (35%) were mapped as integral membrane proteins. These results indicate that methanol alone or in combination with PPS yielded significantly higher membrane protein identification/enrichment than the PPS alone.     

Analysis of anabolic steroids in human hair using LC-MS/MS

New highly sensitive, specific, reliable, reproducible and robust LC-MS/MS methods were developed to detect the anabolic steroids, nandrolone and stanozolol, in human hair for the first time. Hair samples from 180 participants (108 males, 72 females, 62% athletes) were screened using ELISA which revealed 16 athletes as positive for stanozolol and 3 for nandrolone. Positive samples were confirmed on LC-MS/MS in selective reaction monitoring (SRM) mode. The assays for stanozolol and nandrolone showed good linearity in the range 1-400 pg/mg and 5-400 pg/mg, respectively. The methods were validated for LLOD, interday precision, intraday precision, specificity, extraction recovery and accuracy. The assays were capable of detecting 0.5 pg stanozolol and 3.0 pg nandrolone per mg of hair, when approximately 20 mg of hair were processed. Analysis using LC-MS/MS confirmed 11 athletes’ positive for stanozolol (5.0 pg/mg to 86.3 pg/mg) and 1 for nandrolone (14.0 pg/mg) thus avoiding false results from ELISA screening. The results obtained demonstrate the application of these hair analysis methods to detect both steroids at low concentrations, hence reducing the amount of hair required significantly. The new methods complement urinalysis or blood testing and facilitate improved doping testing regimes. Hair analysis benefits from non-invasiveness, negligible risk of infection and facile sample storage and collection, whilst reducing risks of tampering and cross-contamination. Owing to the wide detection window, this approach may also offer an alternative approach for out-of-competition testing.     

Enantioselective LC-MS/MS method for the determination of cloperastine enantiomers in rat plasma and its pharmacokinetic application

Cloperastine is a central antitussive used to reduce the frequency and intensity of coughing on a short-term basis. In this study, a reliable chiral LC-MS/MS technology has been developed for the quantification of cloperastine enantiomers in the rat plasma. Carbinoxamine was selected as the internal standard. The enantioseparation of cloperastine was performed on a Chiralpak IA column with a mobile phase composed of acetonitrile-water-ammonium hydroxide (80:20:0.1, v/v/v) at a flow rate of 0.6 mL/min. Cloperastine enantiomers were detected by mass spectrometry in multiple reaction monitoring mode with a positive electrospray ionization source. The method was validated over the linear concentration range of 0.05 to 10.0 ng/mL (5.0 × 10⁻⁴ ng to 0.10 ng) for both enantiomers. The lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) for each analyte was determined as 0.05 ng/mL. The relative standard deviations (RSDs) of intraday and interday precision was less than 13.9%, and the relative error (RE) of accuracy ranged from −5.4% to 6.1%, which were within the acceptance criteria. Finally, an application to the stereoselective pharmacokinetics of cloperastine in rats was successfully realized in our assay. The developed method on a commercially available Chiralpak IA column under isocratic mobile phase is advantageous to analyze cloperastine enantiomers in plasma samples collected for enantioselective metabolism or drug interaction studies.     

Determination of Acetyl-CoA and Malonyl-CoA in Germinating Rice Seeds Using the LC-MS/MS Technique

A highly sensitive and selective analytical method was developed to determine levels of acetyl-CoA and malonyl-CoA in plant tissues. The analytical method includes a convenient extraction method for plant samples and a new LC-MS/MS technique utilizing an ion pair reagent. These acyl-CoAs, present in germinating rice seeds, were then determined by the method developed. It was found that the concentrations of both acetyl-CoA and malonyl-CoA increased with time during the germination of rice seeds and also increased at the elevated cultivation temperatures among tested. These results reflect the development of enzymes that produce these acyl-CoAs in germinating rice seeds.     

LC-MS/MS法检测人头发中利培酮及其代谢物9-羟利培酮含量的实验研究

目的:建立高效液相色谱-三重四级杆质谱联用(LC-MS/MS)法检测人头发中利培酮(RIP)及其代谢物9-羟利培酮(9-OH-RIP)含量的方法。方法:采用同位素内标氘4-利培酮(RIP-d4)及氘4-9-羟利培酮(9-OH-RIP-d4),流动相A为10 mmol/L醋酸胺溶液(甲酸调p H值为4.0),流动相B为乙腈,A/B=70/30,流速为0.3 m L/min,等度洗脱4.00 min。色谱柱为安捷伦Zorbax SB C18(2.1×50 mm,1.8μm),柱温30℃。准确称取20 mg丙酮清洗过晾干剪碎成粉末的头发样本,加1N氢氧化钠(Na OH)超声2 h,等量酸中和后,加200μL1N氢氧化钠溶液及5.0 m L的甲基叔丁基醚(MTBE)提取涡旋1分钟,3000×g离心5 min后取上清液在40度水浴下氮气吹干后用100μL流动相复溶,进样2μL经LC-MS/MS检测。MRM监测离子对:RIP:m/z 411.2→191.0,9-OH-RIP:m/z 427.2→207.1,RIP-d4:m/z 415.2→195.2,9-OH-RIP-d4:m/z 431.2→211.1。结果:利培酮及9-羟利培酮线性范围分别为0.5-25 ng/mg,0.0025-0.15 ng/mg,提取回收率均70.0%,方法回收率均在85.0%-115.0%之间,线性r均0.999,精密度和重现性RSD均15%。结论:本研究建立了采用LC-MS/MS法检测人头发中利培酮及9-羟利培酮含量的方法,该法快速、简单、准确、重现性好。     

利用IMAC与LC-MS/MS技术分离和鉴定化脓链球菌中的锌结合蛋白

化脓链球菌是一种革兰氏阳性致病菌,能引起一系列疾病。运用固定化金属离子亲和层析技术(IMAC)富集化脓链球菌中锌结合蛋白,进行溶液酶解,利用先进的LC-MS/MS技术对富集的锌结合蛋白进行质谱分析。鉴定到48个在化脓链球菌中与锌结合相关蛋白,这些蛋白主要涉及到蛋白翻译、糖代谢、金属转运、氧化等重要生理过程。这些结果对于深入研究化脓链球菌的致病机制,寻找新的抗菌药物作用靶点和疫苗候选物具有重要意义。     

Enantioselective analysis of citalopram and demethylcitalopram in human and rat plasma by chiral LC-MS/MS: application to pharmacokinetics

Citalopram (CITA) is available as a racemic mixture and as a pure enantiomer. Its antidepressive action is related to the (+)-(S)-CITA and to the metabolite (+)-(S)-demethylcitalopram (DCITA). In the present investigation, a method for the analysis of CITA and DCITA enantiomers in human and rat plasma was developed and applied to the study of pharmacokinetics. Plasma samples (1 ml) were extracted at pH 9.0 with toluene:isoamyl alcohol (9:1, v/v). The CITA and DCITA enantiomers were analyzed by LC-MS/MS on a Chiralcel OD-R column. Recovery was higher than 70% for both enantiomers. The quantification limit was 0.1 ng/ml, and linearity was observed up to 500 ng/ml plasma for each CITA and DCITA enantiomer. The method was applied to the study of the kinetic disposition of CITA administered in a single oral dose of 20 mg to a healthy volunteer and in a single dose of 20 mg/kg (by gavage) to Wistar rats (n = 6 for each time). The results showed a higher proportion of the (-)-(R)-CITA in human and rat plasma, with S/R AUC ratios for CITA of 0.28 and 0.44, respectively. S/R AUC ratios of DCITA were 0.48 for rats and 1.04 for the healthy volunteer.