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Perinelli DR, Cambriani A, Antognini G, Agostinacchio G, Marliani A, Cespi M, Torregiani E, Bonacucina G. Quantification of Squalene and Lactic Acid in Hair Bulbs with Damaged Sheaths: Are They Metabolic Wastes in Alopecia? Biomedicines 2023; 11:2493. [PMID: 37760935 PMCID: PMC10525989 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11092493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Alopecia is a pathological and multifactorial condition characterised by an altered hair growth cycle and ascribed to different pathogenic causes. Cell energetic imbalances in hair follicles occurring in this disorder could lead to the production of some "metabolic wastes", including squalene and lactic acid, which could be involved in the clinically observed sheath damage. The aim of this work was the extraction and analytical quantification of squalene and lactic acid from hair bulbs of subjects with clinical alopecia in comparison with controls, using HPLC-DAD and HPLC-MS techniques. The analytical quantification was performed after a preliminary observation through a polarised optical microscope to assess sheath damage and morphological alterations in the cases group. A significantly larger amount of squalene was quantified only in subjects affected by alopecia (n = 31) and with evident damage to hair sheaths. For lactic acid, no statistically significant differences were found between cases (n = 21) and controls (n = 21) under the experimental conditions used. Therefore, the obtained results suggest that squalene can represent a metabolic and a pathogenic marker for some alopecia conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego Romano Perinelli
- Chemistry, Interdisciplinary Project (ChIP), School of Pharmacy, University of Camerino, Via Madonna delle Carceri, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (D.R.P.); (A.C.); (G.B.)
| | - Alessandra Cambriani
- Chemistry, Interdisciplinary Project (ChIP), School of Pharmacy, University of Camerino, Via Madonna delle Carceri, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (D.R.P.); (A.C.); (G.B.)
| | - Gianluigi Antognini
- S.I.Tri.—Italian Society for Hair Science and Restoration, Via San Domenico 107, 50133 Florence, Italy; (G.A.); (G.A.)
| | - Gaetano Agostinacchio
- S.I.Tri.—Italian Society for Hair Science and Restoration, Via San Domenico 107, 50133 Florence, Italy; (G.A.); (G.A.)
| | - Andrea Marliani
- S.I.Tri.—Italian Society for Hair Science and Restoration, Via San Domenico 107, 50133 Florence, Italy; (G.A.); (G.A.)
| | - Marco Cespi
- Chemistry, Interdisciplinary Project (ChIP), School of Pharmacy, University of Camerino, Via Madonna delle Carceri, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (D.R.P.); (A.C.); (G.B.)
| | - Elisabetta Torregiani
- Chemistry, Interdisciplinary Project (ChIP), School of Pharmacy, University of Camerino, Via Madonna delle Carceri, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (D.R.P.); (A.C.); (G.B.)
| | - Giulia Bonacucina
- Chemistry, Interdisciplinary Project (ChIP), School of Pharmacy, University of Camerino, Via Madonna delle Carceri, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (D.R.P.); (A.C.); (G.B.)
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Csuka DA, Csuka EA, Juhász MLW, Sharma AN, Mesinkovska NA. A systematic review on the lipid composition of human hair. Int J Dermatol 2023; 62:404-415. [PMID: 35218566 DOI: 10.1111/ijd.16109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Revised: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Hair lipid composition varies by ethnic hair type and by hair layer. Lipids in the cuticle, cortex, and medulla of the hair shaft provide a protective barrier to environmental and chemical damage, prevent hair breakage and desorption, and affect the elastic and tensile properties of hair. The aim of this systematic review is to provide an overview of the lipid composition and ethnic differences of human hair, effects of external damage on lipid content and properties, and changes in hair lipid composition associated with disease states. PubMed/MEDLINE was searched up to March 2021 according to PRISMA guidelines for articles discussing the lipid content of human hair and effects of physical, chemical, or environmental damage, and disease. Fifty-nine articles investigating the lipid content of hair were included for review. Lipids affect fluid permeability, hydration, strength, and texture of ethnic hair fibers. Lipid loss is accelerated by hair-damaging treatments such as bleach, dye, perm, straightening, and surfactant use, and sun and aging processes, leading to dehydrated, breakable, disordered, and dull hair. Diseases including acne, alopecia, and breast, gastric, prostate, lung, and rectal cancers display elevated hair lipid levels. Lipids are vital in protection against damage and maintenance of healthy hair. Further studies are needed to investigate the effects of lipids on the structural properties of ethnic hair, and changes in hair lipid composition with various dermatologic and systemic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A Csuka
- Department of Dermatology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Ella A Csuka
- Department of Dermatology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Margit L W Juhász
- Department of Dermatology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Ajay N Sharma
- Department of Dermatology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
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Kirichenko AK, Bardetskaya YV, Fefelova YA, Kotova KV, Tokmakova VO, Ruksha T. Elevated levels of cytochrome p450scc and 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase expression in skin of acne vulgaris patients. VESTNIK DERMATOLOGII I VENEROLOGII 2022. [DOI: 10.25208/vdv1327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Acne vulgaris belongs to androgen-dependent diseases where androgens cause sebaceous gland hypertrophy with a subsequent enlargement of sebum production.
Aims: Determination of the CYP450scc 3-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase expression profile in normal skin and skin of patients with acne.
Material and methods: Immunohistochemical assay was carried out to evaluate cytochrome P450 side chain cleavage and 3-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase expression in skin of patients with acne vulgaris and in normal skin.
Results: Cytochrome P450 side chain cleavage expression was elevated in epidermal keratinocytes and sebocytes whereas 3-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase levels were increased in mature sebocytes of acne vulgaris patients.
Conclusions: The revealed alterations in expression of steroid-converting enzymes in acne skin may indicate not only the conversion of steroids produced by external steroidogenesis organs but elevated steroids local production as well. The fact may account both for sebaceous gland hyperplasia and inflammation sustenance in skin.
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Bensaada S, Raymond I, Breton M, Pellegrin I, Viallard JF, Bennetau-Pelissero C. Development of an Assay for Soy Isoflavones in Women's Hair. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14173619. [PMID: 36079877 PMCID: PMC9460668 DOI: 10.3390/nu14173619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Revised: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Soy isoflavones, at adequate dosages, have estrogenic and anti-thyroidal effects in animals and humans, which can either be beneficial or adverse, depending on the consumer’s physiological status. Hence, this study presents an assay of soy isoflavones in hair, aiming to give new information about a person’s exposure to isoflavones, when health issues related to estrogenic or thyroidal effects are observed. Aqueous or organic extraction procedures following acidic, basic, or enzymatic digestions were tested on 60 hair samples (from volunteers) from a hairdresser, and a clinical trial 2017T2-29. The acidic digestion method was the most efficient regarding isoflavones. A specific inquiry was developed to assess the dietary habits of French consumers based on the analysis of 12,707 food labels from France. It was used to check for the reliability of the new assay method. A score for the consumer exposures to isoflavones was built considering, among other parameters, soy-based diets and foodstuff containing soy as an ingredient, i.e., “hidden-soy”. The correlation between this score and isoflavone measurements in hair reached 0.947; p < 0.001. Therefore, providing that relevant data are considered to assess isoflavone exposure, hair that smoothens daily isoflavone intake variations, is a relevant tissue to assess human isoflavone exposure for subsequent health analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Souad Bensaada
- Carreire Campus, Sciences and Technology Department, Pharmacy Faculty, University of Bordeaux, 33076 Bordeaux, France
- ARNA, U1212 Inserm, 5320 CNRS, Pharmacy Faculty, 33076 Bordeaux, France
| | - Isabelle Raymond
- Carreire Campus, Sciences and Technology Department, Pharmacy Faculty, University of Bordeaux, 33076 Bordeaux, France
- CHU Bordeaux, USN B0-Hôpital Haut Lévêque, 33604 Pessac, France
| | - Malena Breton
- Carreire Campus, Sciences and Technology Department, Pharmacy Faculty, University of Bordeaux, 33076 Bordeaux, France
| | - Isabelle Pellegrin
- Carreire Campus, Sciences and Technology Department, Pharmacy Faculty, University of Bordeaux, 33076 Bordeaux, France
- CHU Bordeaux, Laboratory of Immunology and Immunogenetics, Resources Biological Center (CRB), 33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - Jean-François Viallard
- Carreire Campus, Sciences and Technology Department, Pharmacy Faculty, University of Bordeaux, 33076 Bordeaux, France
- CHU Bordeaux, USN B0-Hôpital Haut Lévêque, 33604 Pessac, France
| | - Catherine Bennetau-Pelissero
- Carreire Campus, Sciences and Technology Department, Pharmacy Faculty, University of Bordeaux, 33076 Bordeaux, France
- ARNA, U1212 Inserm, 5320 CNRS, Pharmacy Faculty, 33076 Bordeaux, France
- Bordeaux Sciences Agro, 33175 Gradignan, France
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +33-(0)-557-571-271
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Dias IHK, Ferreira R, Gruber F, Vitorino R, Rivas-Urbina A, Sanchez-Quesada JL, Vieira Silva J, Fardilha M, de Freitas V, Reis A. Sulfate-based lipids: Analysis of healthy human fluids and cell extracts. Chem Phys Lipids 2019; 221:53-64. [PMID: 30910732 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemphyslip.2019.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2018] [Revised: 03/15/2019] [Accepted: 03/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Sulfate-based lipids (SL) have been proposed as players in inflammation, immunity and infection. In spite of the many biochemical processes linked to SL, analysis on this class of lipids has only focused on specific SL sub-classes in individual fluids or cells leaving a range of additional SL in other biological samples unaccounted for. This study describes the mass spectrometry screening of SL in lipid extracts of human fluids (saliva, plasma, urine, seminal fluid) and primary human cells (RBC, neutrophils, fibroblasts and skin epidermal) using targeted precursor ion scanning (PIS) approach. The PIS 97 mass spectra reveal a wide diversity of SL including steroid sulfates, sulfoglycolipids and other unidentified SL, as well as metabolites such as taurines, sulfated polyphenols and hypurate conjugates. Semi-quantification of SL revealed that plasma exhibited the highest content of SL whereas seminal fluid and epithelial cells contained the highest sulphur to phosphorous (S/P) ratio. The complexity of biofluids and cells sulfateome presented in this study highlight the importance of expanding the panel of synthetic sulfate-based lipid standards. Also, the heterogenous distribution of SL provides evidence for the interplay of sulfotransferases/sulfatases, opening new avenues for biomarker discovery in oral health, cardiovascular, fertility and dermatology research areas.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rita Ferreira
- Departamento de Quimica, Research Unit of Química Orgânica, Produtos Naturais e Agro-alimentares (QOPNA), Universidade de Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Florian Gruber
- Medical University of Vienna, Department of Dermatology, Vienna, Austria; Christian Doppler Laboratory for Biotechnology of Skin Aging, Vienna, Austria
| | - Rui Vitorino
- Unidade de Investigação Cardiovascular, Departamento de Cirurgia e Fisiologia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade do Porto, 4200-319, Porto, Portugal; Department of Medical Sciences, Institute of Biomedicine - iBiMED, University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Andrea Rivas-Urbina
- Cardiovascular Biochemistry, Biomedical Research Institute IIB Sant Pau, Sant Antoni Ma Claret, 167, Barcelona, Spain
| | - José Luis Sanchez-Quesada
- Cardiovascular Biochemistry, Biomedical Research Institute IIB Sant Pau, Sant Antoni Ma Claret, 167, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Joana Vieira Silva
- Department of Medical Sciences, Institute of Biomedicine - iBiMED, University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal; Reproductive Genetics & Embryo-fetal Development Group, Institute for Innovation and Health Research (I3S), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal; Unit for Multidisciplinary Research in Biomedicine (UMIB), Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar (ICBAS), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Margarida Fardilha
- Department of Medical Sciences, Institute of Biomedicine - iBiMED, University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Victor de Freitas
- LAQV/REQUIMTE, Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre 687, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal
| | - Ana Reis
- LAQV/REQUIMTE, Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre 687, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal.
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Moon JY, Choi MH, Kim J. Metabolic profiling of cholesterol and sex steroid hormones to monitor urological diseases. Endocr Relat Cancer 2016; 23:R455-67. [PMID: 27580660 PMCID: PMC5064754 DOI: 10.1530/erc-16-0285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2016] [Accepted: 08/04/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Cholesterol and sex steroid hormones including androgens and estrogens play a critical role in the development and progression of urological diseases such as prostate cancer. This disease remains the most commonly diagnosed malignant tumor in men and is the leading cause of death from different cancers. Attempts to understand the role of cholesterol and steroid metabolism in urological diseases have been ongoing for many years, but despite this, our mechanistic and translational understanding remains elusive. In order to further evaluate the problem, we have taken an interest in metabolomics; a discipline dedicated to the systematic study of biologically active metabolites in cells, tissues, hair and biofluids. Recently, we provided evidence that a quantitative measurement of cholesterol and sex steroid metabolites can be successfully achieved using hair of human and mouse models. The overall goal of this short review article is to introduce current metabolomic technologies for the quantitative biomarker assay development and also to provide new insight into understanding the underlying mechanisms that trigger the pathological condition. Furthermore, this review will place a particular emphasis on how to prepare biospecimens (e.g., hair fiber), quantify molecular profiles and assess their clinical significance in various urological diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ju-Yeun Moon
- Molecular Recognition Research CenterKorea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul, Korea
| | - Man Ho Choi
- Molecular Recognition Research CenterKorea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jayoung Kim
- Departments of Surgery and Biomedical SciencesCedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA Department of MedicineUniversity of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
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7
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Gao W, Kirschbaum C, Grass J, Stalder T. LC-MS based analysis of endogenous steroid hormones in human hair. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2016; 162:92-9. [PMID: 26718873 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2015.12.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2015] [Revised: 12/15/2015] [Accepted: 12/17/2015] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
The quantification of endogenous steroid hormone concentrations in hair is increasingly used as a method for obtaining retrospective information on long-term integrated hormone exposure. Several different analytical procedures have been employed for hair steroid analysis, with liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) being recognized as a particularly powerful analytical tool. Several methodological aspects affect the performance of LC-MS systems for hair steroid analysis, including sample preparation and pretreatment, steroid extraction, post-incubation purification, LC methodology, ionization techniques and MS specifications. Here, we critically review the differential value of such protocol variants for hair steroid hormones analysis, focusing on both analytical quality and practical feasibility issues. Our results show that, when methodological challenges are adequately addressed, LC-MS protocols can not only yield excellent sensitivity and specificity but are also characterized by relatively simple sample processing and short run times. This makes LC-MS based hair steroid protocols particularly suitable as a high-quality option for routine application in research contexts requiring the processing of larger numbers of samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Gao
- TU Dresden, Department of Psychology, Dresden, Germany
| | | | - Juliane Grass
- TU Dresden, Department of Psychology, Dresden, Germany
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Lee DY, Kim E, Choi MH. Technical and clinical aspects of cortisol as a biochemical marker of chronic stress. BMB Rep 2016; 48:209-16. [PMID: 25560699 PMCID: PMC4436856 DOI: 10.5483/bmbrep.2015.48.4.275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 222] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2014] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Stress is now recognized as a universal premorbid factor associated with many risk factors of various chronic diseases. Acute stress may induce an individual's adaptive response to environmental demands. However, chronic, excessive stress causes cumulative negative impacts on health outcomes through "allostatic load". Thus, monitoring the quantified levels of long-term stress mediators would provide a timely opportunity for prevention or earlier intervention of stress-related chronic illnesses. Although either acute or chronic stress could be quantified through measurement of changes in physiological parameters such as heart rate, blood pressure, and levels of various metabolic hormones, it is still elusive to interpret whether the changes in circulating levels of stress mediators such as cortisol can reflect the acute, chronic, or diurnal variations. Both serum and salivary cortisol levels reveal acute changes at a single point in time, but the overall long-term systemic cortisol exposure is difficult to evaluate due to circadian variations and its protein-binding capacity. Scalp hair has a fairy predictable growth rate of approximately 1 cm/month, and the most 1 cm segment approximates the last month's cortisol production as the mean value. The analysis of cortisol in hair is a highly promising technique for the retrospective assessment of chronic stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Do Yup Lee
- Department of Bio and Fermentation Convergence Technology, Kookmin University, Seoul 136-702, Korea
| | - Eosu Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Behavioral Science in Medicine, Brain Korea 21 Plus Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 120-752, Korea
| | - Man Ho Choi
- Future Convergence Research Division, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul 136-791, Korea
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Son HH, Lee DY, Seo HS, Jeong J, Moon JY, Lee JE, Chung BC, Kim E, Choi MH. Hair sterol signatures coupled to multivariate data analysis reveal an increased 7β-hydroxycholesterol production in cognitive impairment. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2016; 155:9-17. [PMID: 26385606 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2015.09.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2015] [Revised: 09/10/2015] [Accepted: 09/14/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Altered cholesterol metabolism could be associated with cognitive impairment. The quantitative profiling of 19 hair sterols was developed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry coupled to multivariate data analysis. The limit of quantification of all sterols ranged from 5 to 20 ng/g, while the calibration linearity was higher than 0.98. The precision (% CV) and accuracy (% bias) ranged from 3.2% to 9.8% and from 83.2% to 119.4%, respectively. Among the sterols examined, 8 were quantitatively detected from two strands of 3-cm-long scalp hair samples of female participants, including mild cognitive impairment (MCI, n=15), Alzheimer's disease (AD, n=31), and healthy controls (HC, n=36). The cognitive impairment (MCI or AD) was correlated with a higher metabolic rate than that of HCs based on 7β-hydroxycholesterol (P<0.005). Significant negative correlations (r=-0.822) were detected between Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores and hair sample metabolic ratios of 7β-hydroxycholesterol to cholesterol, which is an accepted, sensitive, and specific tool for discriminating HCs from individuals with MCI or AD. In conclusion, improved diagnostic values can be obtained using hair sterol signatures coupled with MMSE scores. This method may prove useful for predictive diagnosis in population screening of cognitive impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyun-Hwa Son
- Materials and Life Science Research Division, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul 136-791, South Korea
| | - Do-Yup Lee
- Department of Bio and Fermentation Convergence Technology, Kookmin University, Seoul 136-702, South Korea
| | - Hong Seog Seo
- Cardiovascular Center, Korea University Guro Hospital, Seoul 152-703, South Korea
| | - Jihyeon Jeong
- Department of Psychiatry, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 120-752, South Korea
| | - Ju-Yeon Moon
- Materials and Life Science Research Division, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul 136-791, South Korea
| | - Jung-Eun Lee
- Department of Bio and Fermentation Convergence Technology, Kookmin University, Seoul 136-702, South Korea
| | - Bong Chul Chung
- Materials and Life Science Research Division, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul 136-791, South Korea
| | - Eosu Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 120-752, South Korea.
| | - Man Ho Choi
- Materials and Life Science Research Division, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul 136-791, South Korea.
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Choi MH, Chung BC. Bringing GC-MS profiling of steroids into clinical applications. MASS SPECTROMETRY REVIEWS 2015; 34:219-236. [PMID: 24965919 DOI: 10.1002/mas.21436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2012] [Revised: 12/05/2013] [Accepted: 03/26/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Abnormalities of steroid biosynthesis and excretion are responsible for the development and prevention of endocrine disorders, such as metabolic syndromes, cancers, and neurodegenerative diseases. Due to their biochemical roles in endocrine system, qualitative and quantitative analysis of steroid hormones in various biological specimens is needed to elucidate their altered expression. Mass spectrometry (MS)-based steroid profiling can reveal the states of metabolites in biological systems and provide comprehensive insights by allowing comparisons between metabolites present in cells, tissues, or organisms. In addition, the activities of many enzymes related to steroid metabolism often lead to hormonal imbalances that have serious consequences, and which are responsible for the progress of hormone-dependent diseases. In contrast to immunoaffinity-based enzyme assays, MS-based methods are more reproducible in quantification. In particular, high-resolution gas chromatographic (GC) separation of steroids with similar chemical structures can be achieved to provide rapid and reproducible results with excellent purification. GC-MS profiling therefore has been widely used for steroid analysis, and offers the basis for techniques that can be applied to large-scale clinical studies. Recent advances in analytical technologies combined with inter-disciplinary strategies, such as physiology and bioinformatics, will help in understanding the biochemical roles of steroid hormones. Therefore, comprehensive analytical protocols in steroid analysis for different research purposes may contribute to the elucidation of complex metabolic processes relevant to steroid function in many endocrine disorders, and in the identification of diagnostic biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Man Ho Choi
- Future Convergence Research Division, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul, 136-791, Korea
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