Highly sensitive quantification for human plasma-targeted metabolomics using an amine derivatization reagent

Instrument-type effects on chemical isotope labeling LC-MS metabolome analysis: Quadrupole time-of-flight MS vs. Orbitrap MS

Chemical isotope labeling (CIL) LC-MS is a powerful tool for metabolome analysis with markedly improved metabolomic coverage and quantification accuracy over the conventional LC-MS technique. In addition, with differential isotope labeling, each labeled metabolite is detected as a peak pair in the mass spectra, offering the possibility of differentiating true metabolite peaks from the singlet noise or background peaks. In this study, we examined the effects of instrument type on the detectability of true metabolites with a focus on the comparison of quadrupole time-of-flight (QTOF) and Orbitrap mass spectrometers. Using the same ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography setup and optimized running conditions for QTOF and Orbitrap, we compared the total number of peak pairs detected and identified from the two instruments using human urine and serum as the test samples. Many common peak pairs were detected from the two instruments; however, there were a significant number of unique peak pairs detected in each type of instrument. By combining the datasets obtained using QTOF and Orbitrap, the total number of peak pairs detected could be significantly increased. We also examined the effect of mass resolving power on peak pair detection in Orbitrap (60,000 vs. 120,000 resolution). The observed differences in peak pair detectability were much less than those of QTOF vs. Orbitrap. However, the type of peak pairs detected using different resolutions could be somewhat different, offering the possibility of increasing the overall number of peak pairs by combining the two datasets obtained at two different resolutions. The results from this study clearly indicate that instrument type can have a profound effect on metabolite detection in CIL LC-MS. Therefore, comparison of metabolome data generated using different instruments needs to be carefully done. Moreover, future research (e.g., hardware modifications) is warranted to minimize the differences in order to generate more reproducible metabolome data from different types of instruments.

Options of the Main Derivatization Approaches for Analytical ESI and MALDI Mass Spectrometry

The inclusion of preliminary chemical labeling (derivatization) in the analysis process by such powerful and widespread methods as electrospray ionization (ESI) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry (MS) is a popular and widely used methodological approach. This is due to the need to remove some fundamental limitations inherent in these powerful analytic methods. Although a number of special reviews has been published discussing the utilization of derivatization approaches, the purpose of the present critical review is to comprehensively summarize, characterize and evaluate most of the previously developed and practically applied, as well as recently proposed representative derivatization reagents for ESI-MS and MALDI-MS platforms in their mostly sensitive positive ion mode and frequently hyphenated with separation techniques. The review is focused on the use of preliminary chemical labeling to facilitate the detection, identification, structure elucidation, quantification, profiling or MS imaging of compounds within complex matrices. Two main derivatization approaches, namely the introduction of permanent charge-fixed or highly proton affinitive residues into analytes are critically evaluated. In situ charge-generation, charge-switch and charge-transfer derivatizations are considered separately. The potential of using reactive matrices in MALDI-MS and chemical labeling in MS-based omics sciences is given.

Induction of tryptophan hydroxylase in the liver of s.c. tumor model of prostate cancer

Enhanced degradation of tryptophan (Trp) and thus decreased plasma Trp levels are common in several types of cancers. Although it is well known that Trp catabolism is induced in the tumor microenvironment by the enzymes expressed in cancer cells, immune cells, or both, few studies have examined systemic Trp catabolism in cancer pathophysiology. The present study aimed to evaluate Trp catabolism in both tumor and peripheral tissues using tumor‐engrafted Copenhagen rats that were s.c. inoculated with AT‐2 rat prostate cancer cells negative for expression of Trp catabolic enzymes. Liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS) metabolomics showed significantly decreased plasma Trp levels in AT‐2 engrafted rats, accompanied by increased kynurenine/Trp ratios in spleen and thymus and serotonin levels in liver and thymus. Quantitative PCR and enzymatic activity assays showed indoleamine‐2, 3‐dioxygenase, an inducible enzyme that catalyzes Trp to kynurenine, was increased in tumor tissues, whereas tryptophan‐2,3‐dioxygenase, a major Trp catabolic enzyme that regulates systemic level of Trp, tended to be increased in the liver of AT‐2 engrafted rats. Furthermore, tryptophan hydroxylase‐1 (TPH1), an enzyme that catalyzes the reaction of Trp to serotonin, was significantly increased in liver and spleen of AT‐2 engrafted rats. Further histochemical analysis revealed that the induction of TPH1 in the liver could be attributed to infiltration of mast cells. A similar phenomenon was observed with nonneoplastic liver samples from colorectal cancer patients. These results suggested that Trp catabolism toward serotonin synthesis might be induced in peripheral remote tissues in cancer, which could have a pathophysiological effect on cancer.

Development of multiple reaction monitoring assay for quantification of carnosine in human plasma

Carnosine, a histidine containing dipeptide, exerts beneficial effects by scavenging reactive carbonyl compounds (RCCs) that are implicated in pathogenesis of diabetes. However, the reduced carnosine levels may aggravate the severity of diabetes. The precise quantification of carnosine levels may serve as an indicator of pathophysiological state of diabetes. Therefore, we have developed a highly sensitive targeted multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) method for quantification of carnosine in human plasma samples. Various mass spectrometry parameters such as ionization of precursor, fragment abundance and stability, collision energy, tube lens offset voltage were optimized to develop a sensitive and robust assay. Using the optimized MRM assay, the lower limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) for carnosine were found to be 0.4 nM and 1.0 nM respectively. Standard curves were constructed ranging from 1.0 nM to 15.0 μM and the levels of carnosine in mice and human plasma were determined. Further, the MRM assay was extended to study carnosine hydrolyzing activity of human carnosinases, the serum carnosinase (CN1) and the cytosolic carnosinase (CN2). CN1 showed three folds higher activity than CN2. The MRM assay developed in this study is highly sensitive and can be used for basal plasma carnosine quantification, which can be developed as a novel marker for scavenging of RCCs in diabetes.

Human plasma carnosine quantification by developing a sensitive multiple reaction monitoring method.

Development of a rapid and simple glycine analysis method using a stable glycine oxidase mutant

Glycine analysis is important in research fields such as physiology and healthcare because the concentration of glycine in human plasma has been reported to change with various disorders. Glycine oxidase from Bacillus subtilis (GlyOX) is useful for quantitative analysis of glycine. However, GlyOX is not sufficiently stable for use in physiology-based research or clinical settings. In this report, site-directed mutagenesis was used to engineer a GlyOX mutant suitable for glycine analysis. The GlyOX triple-mutant (T42 A/C245 S/L301V) retained most of its enzymatic activity during storage for over a year at 4 °C. A colorimetric enzyme analysis protocol was established using the GlyOX triple-mutant to determine glycine concentrations in human plasma. The analysis showed high accuracy (-5.4 to 3.5% relative errors when compared with the results from an amino acid analyzer, and 96.0-98.7% recoveries) and high precision (<4% between-run variation). Sample pretreatments of deproteinization and derivatization were not required. Therefore, this novel enzymatic analysis offers an effective and useful method for determining glycine concentrations in physiology related research and the healthcare field.

Association between plasma α-aminobutyric acid and depressive symptoms in older community-dwelling adults in Japan

AIM

To examine the association between depressive symptoms and plasma amino acid related metaboli in older adults.

METHODS

A total of 152 older adults aged ≥65 years, residing in Niigata, Japan, were used for analysis. We evaluated depressive symptoms using the Geriatric Depression Scale-15, which has been validated in older community-dwelling individuals, and used a cut off score of ≥5 to classify participants as having depressive symptoms. We used high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry to measure the concentrations of plasma amino acid-related metabolites, and carried out logistic regression analysis to assess the association between depressive symptoms and plasma amino acid-related metabolites.

RESULTS

Of the 119 older adults (mean age 76.3 years) included in the analysis, 22 were classified as having depressive symptoms (depressive group). There were no significant differences in physical and cognitive impairments between participants in the depressive and non-depressive groups. The plasma α-aminobutyric acid (AABA) level was significantly lower in the depressive group than in the non-depressive group (P < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis showed the best-fit model, which included AABA, leucine, threonine, hydroxyl proline and histidine levels (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve 0.8346; 95% confidence interval 0.7365-0.9326). In particular, the plasma AABA level was strongly associated with depressive symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

Plasma AABA level is significantly associated with depression symptoms in older community-dwelling adults in Japan. Thus, plasma AABA might serve as a potential marker of depression in older adults aged ≥65 years. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2019; 19: 254-258.

Combination Metabolomics Approach for Identifying Endogenous Substrates of Carnitine/Organic Cation Transporter OCTN1

PURPOSE

Solute carrier SLC22A4 encodes the carnitine/organic cation transporter OCTN1 and is associated with inflammatory bowel disease, although little is known about how this gene is linked to pathogenesis. The aim of the present study was to identify endogenous substrates that are associated with gastrointestinal inflammation.

METHODS

HEK293/OCTN1 and mock cells were incubated with colon extracts isolated from dextran sodium sulfate-induced colitis mice; the subsequent cell lysates were mixed with the amino group selective reagent 3-aminopyridyl-N-hydroxysuccinimidyl carbamate (APDS), to selectively label OCTN1 substrates. Precursor ion scanning against the fragment ion of APDS was then used to identify candidate OCTN1 substrates.

RESULTS

Over 10,000 peaks were detected by precursor ion scanning; m/z 342 had a higher signal in HEK293/OCTN1 compared to mock cells. This peak was detected as a divalent ion that contained four APDS-derived fragments and was identified as spermine. Spermine concentration in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from octn1 gene knockout mice (octn1^-/-) was significantly lower than in wild-type mice. Lipopolysaccharide-induced gene expression of inflammatory cytokines in peritoneal macrophages from octn1^-/- mice was lower than in wild-type mice.

CONCLUSIONS

The combination metabolomics approach can provide a novel tool to identify endogenous substrates of OCTN1.

Current and future perspectives of functional metabolomics in disease studies-A review

Functional metabolomics is a new concept, which studies the functions of metabolites and related enzymes focused on metabolomics. It overcomes the shortcomings of traditional discovery metabolomics of mainly relying on literatures for biological interpretation. Functional metabolomics has many advantages. Firstly, the functional roles of metabolites and related metabolic enzymes are focused. Secondly, the in vivo and in vitro experiments are conducted to validate the metabolomics findings, therefore, increasing the reliability of metabolomics study and producing the new knowledge. Thirdly, functional metabolomics can be used by biologists to investigate functions of metabolites, and related genes and proteins. In this review, we summarize the analytical, biological and clinical platforms used in functional metabolomics studies. Recent progresses of functional metabolomics in cancer, metabolic diseases and biological phenotyping are reviewed, and future development is also predicted. Because of the tremendous advantages of functional metabolomics, it will have a bright future.