Innovation in drug toxicology: Application of mass spectrometry imaging technology

Mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) is a powerful molecular imaging technology that can obtain qualitative, quantitative, and location information by simultaneously detecting and mapping endogenous or exogenous molecules in biological tissue slices without specific chemical labeling or complex sample pretreatment. This article reviews the progress made in MSI and its application in drug toxicology research, including the tissue distribution of toxic drugs and their metabolites, the target organs (liver, kidney, lung, eye, and central nervous system) of toxic drugs, the discovery of toxicity-associated biomarkers, and explanations of the mechanisms of drug toxicity when MSI is combined with the cutting-edge omics methodologies. The unique advantages and broad prospects of this technology have been fully demonstrated to further promote its wider use in the field of pharmaceutical toxicology.

Metabolic Visualization Reveals the Distinct Distribution of Sugars and Amino Acids in Rice Koji

The compounds inside rice koji have been thoroughly investigated as an essential material in making many food-related products, including sake. However, these studies focused only on quantitative aspects, leaving features that can still be uncovered if seen from a new perspective. Visualization of the metabolites inside rice koji may as well be the new angle needed to retrieve more information regarding rice koji making. Here we utilized mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) to visualize the distribution of sugars, sugar alcohols, and amino acids inside rice koji. Imaging results revealed that several sugars alcohols and amino acids were shown to have characteristic distribution near the edges or surface of rice koji. Furthermore, the distribution appears to be correlated with the different structure of rice koji. This study is the first report of using MSI to visualize sugars, sugar alcohols, and amino acids in rice koji.

Mass spectrometric imaging of localization of fat molecules in water-in-oil emulsions containing semi-solid fat

Firstly, we report the localization analysis of the lipid components of a water-in-oil (W/O) semi-solid emulsion by mass spectrometry imaging (MSI). Uniform emulsion droplets were prepared using microchannel emulsification devices with lecithin, stearic acid-binding monoglyceride (St-MAG), and polyglycerol polyricinoleate (PGPR) as emulsifiers. The mass image gives us the localization of phosphatidylcholine (PC) in lecithin, St-MAG, tripalmitin (PPP), medium-chain triglyceride (MCT), and high-melting-point triglyceride tristearin (C18-TAG). PC, St-MAG, and PPP were localized at the interface with the dispersed water droplets. PC and PPP took the same localized position, suggesting an interaction between PC and PPP at the interface. Conversely, PC existed in other regions with St-MAG. MSI revealed multiple target molecules in fat products in a single measurement, and it is expected to reveal fat crystallization at the emulsion interfaces, which will clarify the mechanisms related to the physical properties of high-fat products such as fat spread and butter.

A Phytochemical-Sensing Strategy Based on Mass Spectrometry Imaging and Metabolic Profiling for Understanding the Functionality of the Medicinal Herb Green Tea

Low-molecular-weight phytochemicals have health benefits and reduce the risk of diseases, but the mechanisms underlying their activities have remained elusive because of the lack of a methodology that can easily visualize the exact behavior of such small molecules. Recently, we developed an in situ label-free imaging technique, called mass spectrometry imaging, for visualizing spatially-resolved biotransformations based on simultaneous mapping of the major bioactive green tea polyphenol and its phase II metabolites. In addition, we established a mass spectrometry-based metabolic profiling technique capable of evaluating the bioactivities of diverse green tea extracts, which contain multiple phytochemicals, by focusing on their compositional balances. This methodology allowed us to simultaneously evaluate the relative contributions of the multiple compounds present in a multicomponent system to its bioactivity. This review highlights small molecule-sensing techniques for visualizing the complex behaviors of herbal components and linking such information to an enhanced understanding of the functionalities of multicomponent medicinal herbs.

Metabolomics, Nutrition, and Potential Biomarkers of Food Quality, Intake, and Health Status

Diet, dietary patterns, and other environmental factors such as exposure to toxins are playing an important role in the prevention/development of many diseases, like obesity, type 2 diabetes, and consequently on the health status of individuals. A major challenge nowadays is to identify novel biomarkers to detect as early as possible metabolic dysfunction and to predict evolution of health status in order to refine nutritional advices to specific population groups. Omics technologies such as genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics coupled with statistical and bioinformatics tools have already shown great potential in this research field even if so far only few biomarkers have been validated. For the past two decades, important analytical techniques have been developed to detect as many metabolites as possible in human biofluids such as urine, blood, and saliva. In the field of food science and nutrition, many studies have been carried out for food authenticity, quality, and safety, as well as for food processing. Furthermore, metabolomic investigations have been carried out to discover new early biomarkers of metabolic dysfunction and predictive biomarkers of developing pathologies (obesity, metabolic syndrome, type-2 diabetes, etc.). Great emphasis is also placed in the development of methodologies to identify and validate biomarkers of nutrients exposure.

Mass spectrometry based chemical imaging of foods

Chemical imaging based on mass spectrometry is an emerging technology which has opened opportunities for fundamental research in food science.

Quantitative mass spectrometric analysis of dipeptides in protein hydrolysate by a TNBS derivatization-aided standard addition method

The aim of this study was to establish, through a standard addition method, a convenient quantification assay for dipeptides (GY, YG, SY, YS, and IY) in soybean hydrolysate using 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonate (TNBS) derivatization-aided LC-TOF-MS. Soybean hydrolysate samples (25.0 mg mL(-1)) spiked with target standards were subjected to TNBS derivatization. Under the optimal LC-MS conditions, five target dipeptides derivatized with TNBS were successfully detected. Examination of the standard addition curves, with a correlation coefficient of r(2) > 0.979, provided a reliable quantification of the target dipeptides, GY, YG, SY, YS, and IY, in soybean hydrolysate to be 424 ± 20, 184 ± 9, 2188 ± 199, 327 ± 16, and 2211 ± 133 μg g(-1) of hydrolysate, respectively. The proposed LC-MS assay is a reliable and convenient assay method, with no interference from matrix effects in hydrolysate, and with no requirement for the use of an isotope labeled internal standard.