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Rajska A, Raczak-Gutknecht J, Struck-Lewicka W, Buszewska-Forajta M, Wityk P, Verding P, Kowalewska A, Siluk D, Rachoń D, Jan Markuszewski M. Determination of urinary androgens in women with polycystic ovary syndrome using LC-QqQ/MS and the application of thin film solid-phase microextraction (TF-SPME). J Chromatogr A 2024; 1718:464735. [PMID: 38364619 DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2024.464735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 02/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
Hyperandrogenism is one of the most pronounced symptoms of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and seems to play a key role in the pathogenesis of this complex disorder. Nevertheless, there is still a lack of consistent results regarding common steroid predictors of PCOS. Therefore, a liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-QqQ/MS) method was developed and validated to determine the concentrations of four classic androgens: androstenedione (An-dione), testosterone (T), 5α-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and androsterone (An) in urine samples obtained from women with PCOS and healthy controls. The limits of detection were between 0.04 and 0.09 ng/mL, while the limits of quantification ranged from 0.1 to 0.3 ng/mL respectively. As a pre-treatment procedure prior to analysis, hydrolysis using β-glucuronidase and thin film solid-phase microextraction (TF-SPME) was applied. The methodology was employed to perform targeted metabolomics of urinary steroids in women with PCOS and healthy controls. All measured androgens: An-dione (p < 0.0001), T (p = 0.0001), DHT (p < 0.0001) and An (p = 0.0002) showed significantly higher concentrations in the urine of women with PCOS. The largest difference in the mean concentration was found for DHT, which was 2.8 times higher in the PCOS group (13.9 ± 14.1 ng/mg creatinine) in comparison to healthy controls (4.9 ± 3.4 ng/mg creatinine). The results of receiver operating characteristic curve indicated that determination of the panel of three urinary androgens: T+DHT+An-dione with, under the study assumptions, was the best predictor of PCOS diagnosis (AUC of ROC curve = 0.91 (95 % CI: 0.8212-0.9905). The application of an LC-MS/MS-based analysis, together with highly sensitive extraction techniques like TF-SPME, is a suitable approach to perform fast assays and obtain reliable results - crucial in the search for valuable and significant steroids predictors of PCOS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Rajska
- Department of Biopharmaceutics and Pharmacodynamics, Medical University of Gdańsk, Al. Gen. Hallera 107, Gdańsk 80-416, Poland
| | - Joanna Raczak-Gutknecht
- Department of Biopharmaceutics and Pharmacodynamics, Medical University of Gdańsk, Al. Gen. Hallera 107, Gdańsk 80-416, Poland
| | - Wiktoria Struck-Lewicka
- Department of Biopharmaceutics and Pharmacodynamics, Medical University of Gdańsk, Al. Gen. Hallera 107, Gdańsk 80-416, Poland
| | | | - Paweł Wityk
- Department of Biopharmaceutics and Pharmacodynamics, Medical University of Gdańsk, Al. Gen. Hallera 107, Gdańsk 80-416, Poland
| | - Phaedra Verding
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Applied Chemometrics and Molecular Modelling, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, Brussels 1090, Belgium
| | | | - Danuta Siluk
- Department of Biopharmaceutics and Pharmacodynamics, Medical University of Gdańsk, Al. Gen. Hallera 107, Gdańsk 80-416, Poland.
| | - Dominik Rachoń
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Endocrinology, Medical University of Gdańsk, Dębinki 7, Gdańsk 80-211, Poland
| | - Michał Jan Markuszewski
- Department of Biopharmaceutics and Pharmacodynamics, Medical University of Gdańsk, Al. Gen. Hallera 107, Gdańsk 80-416, Poland.
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Thomas A, Thevis M. Recent advances in mass spectrometry for the detection of doping. Expert Rev Proteomics 2024; 21:27-39. [PMID: 38214680 DOI: 10.1080/14789450.2024.2305432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The analysis of doping control samples is preferably performed by mass spectrometry, because obtained results meet the highest analytical standards and ensure an impressive degree of reliability. The advancement in mass spectrometry and all its associated technologies thus allow for continuous improvements in doping control analysis. AREAS COVERED Modern mass spectrometric systems have reached a status of increased sensitivity, robustness, and specificity within the last decade. The improved sensitivity in particular has, on the other hand, also led to the detection of drug residues that were attributable to scenarios where the prohibited substances were not administered consciously but rather by the unconscious ingestion of or exposure to contaminated products. These scenarios and their doubtless clarification represent a great challenge. Here, too, modern MS systems and their applications can provide good insights in the interpretation of dose-related metabolism of prohibited substances. In addition to the development of new instruments itself, software-assisted analysis of the sometimes highly complex data is playing an increasingly important role and facilitating the work of doping control laboratories. EXPERT OPINION The sensitive analysis and evaluation of a higher number of samples in a shorter time is made possible by the ongoing developments in mass spectrometry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Thomas
- Institute of Biochemistry/Center for Preventive Doping Research, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Mario Thevis
- Institute of Biochemistry/Center for Preventive Doping Research, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- European Monitoring Center for Emerging Doping Agents (EuMoCEDA), Cologne/Bonn, Germany
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de Figueiredo M, Saugy J, Saugy M, Faiss R, Salamin O, Nicoli R, Kuuranne T, Rudaz S, Botrè F, Boccard J. A new multimodal paradigm for biomarkers longitudinal monitoring: a clinical application to women steroid profiles in urine and blood. Anal Chim Acta 2023; 1267:341389. [PMID: 37257979 DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2023.341389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Revised: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Most current state-of-the-art strategies to generate individual adaptive reference ranges are designed to monitor one clinical parameter at a time. An innovative methodology is proposed for the simultaneous longitudinal monitoring of multiple biomarkers. The estimation of individual thresholds is performed by applying a Bayesian modeling strategy to a multivariate score integrating several biomarkers (compound concentration and/or ratio). This multimodal monitoring was applied to data from a clinical study involving 14 female volunteers with normal menstrual cycles receiving testosterone via transdermal route, as to test its ability to detect testosterone administration. The study samples consisted of urine and blood collected during 4 weeks of a control phase and 4 weeks with a daily testosterone gel application. RESULTS Integrating multiple biomarkers improved the detection of testosterone gel administration with substantially higher sensitivity compared with the distinct follow-up of each biomarker, when applied to selected urine and serum steroid biomarkers, as well as the combination of both. Among the 175 known positive samples, 38% were identified by the multimodal approach using urine biomarkers, 79% using serum biomarkers and 83% by combining biomarkers from both biological matrices, whereas 10%, 67% and 64% were respectively detected using standard unimodal monitoring. SIGNIFICANCE AND NOVELTY The detection of abnormal patterns can be improved using multimodal approaches. The combination of urine and serum biomarkers reduced the overall number of false-negatives, thus evidencing promising complementarity between urine and blood sampling for doping control, as highlighted in the case of the use of transdermal testosterone preparations. The generation in a multimodal setting of adaptive and personalized reference ranges opens up new opportunities in clinical and anti-doping profiling. The integration of multiple parameters in a longitudinal monitoring is expected to provide a more complete evaluation of individual profiles generating actionable intelligence to further guide sample collection, analysis protocols and decision-making in clinics and anti-doping.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel de Figueiredo
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland; Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Western Switzerland, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Jonas Saugy
- Center of Research and Expertise in Anti-Doping Sciences, Institute of Sport Sciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Martial Saugy
- Center of Research and Expertise in Anti-Doping Sciences, Institute of Sport Sciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Raphaël Faiss
- Center of Research and Expertise in Anti-Doping Sciences, Institute of Sport Sciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Olivier Salamin
- Center of Research and Expertise in Anti-Doping Sciences, Institute of Sport Sciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland; Swiss Laboratory for Doping Analyses, University Center of Legal Medicine, Lausanne and Geneva, Lausanne University, Hospital and University of Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Raul Nicoli
- Swiss Laboratory for Doping Analyses, University Center of Legal Medicine, Lausanne and Geneva, Lausanne University, Hospital and University of Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Tiia Kuuranne
- Swiss Laboratory for Doping Analyses, University Center of Legal Medicine, Lausanne and Geneva, Lausanne University, Hospital and University of Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Serge Rudaz
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland; Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Western Switzerland, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Francesco Botrè
- Center of Research and Expertise in Anti-Doping Sciences, Institute of Sport Sciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Julien Boccard
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland; Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Western Switzerland, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
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Equey T, Salamin O, Ponzetto F, Nicoli R, Kuuranne T, Saugy J, Saugy M, Aikin R, Baume N. Longitudinal Profiling of Endogenous Steroids in Blood Using the Athlete Biological Passport Approach. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2023; 108:1937-1946. [PMID: 36794909 DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgad085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Revised: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT Detection of endogenous anabolic androgenic steroids (EAAS), like testosterone (T), as doping agents has been improved with the launch of the Steroidal Module of the Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) in urine samples. OBJECTIVE To target doping practices with EAAS, particularly in individuals with low level of biomarkers excreted in urine, by including new target compounds measured in blood. DESIGN T and T/androstenedione (T/A4) distributions were obtained from 4 years of anti-doping data and applied as priors to analyze individual profiles from 2 T administration studies in female and male subjects. SETTING Anti-doping laboratory. Elite athletes (n = 823) and male and female clinical trials subjects (n = 19 and 14, respectively). INTERVENTION(S) Two open-label administration studies were carried out. One involved a control phase period followed by patch and then oral T administration in male volunteers and the other followed female volunteers during 3 menstrual cycles with 28 days of daily transdermal T application during the second month. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) Serum samples were analyzed for T and A4 and the performance of a longitudinal ABP-based approach was evaluated for T and T/A4. RESULTS An ABP-based approach set at a 99% specificity flagged all female subjects during the transdermal T application period and 44% of subjects 3 days after the treatment. T showed the best sensitivity (74%) in response to transdermal T application in males. CONCLUSIONS Inclusion of T and T/A4 as markers in the Steroidal Module can improve the performance of the ABP to identify T transdermal application, particularly in females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tristan Equey
- World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), Montreal, Quebec H4Z 1B7, Canada
| | - Olivier Salamin
- Swiss Laboratory for Doping Analyses, University Center of Legal Medicine, Genève and Lausanne, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois and University of Lausanne, 1066 Epalinges, Switzerland
- Research and Expertise in anti-Doping Sciences (REDs), Institute of Sport Sciences, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Federico Ponzetto
- Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of Medical Sciences, City of Health and Science University Hospital, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy
| | - Raul Nicoli
- Swiss Laboratory for Doping Analyses, University Center of Legal Medicine, Genève and Lausanne, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois and University of Lausanne, 1066 Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Tiia Kuuranne
- Swiss Laboratory for Doping Analyses, University Center of Legal Medicine, Genève and Lausanne, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois and University of Lausanne, 1066 Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Jonas Saugy
- Research and Expertise in anti-Doping Sciences (REDs), Institute of Sport Sciences, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Martial Saugy
- Research and Expertise in anti-Doping Sciences (REDs), Institute of Sport Sciences, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Reid Aikin
- World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), Montreal, Quebec H4Z 1B7, Canada
| | - Norbert Baume
- World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), Montreal, Quebec H4Z 1B7, Canada
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Ponzetto F, Parasiliti-Caprino M, Gesmundo I, Marinelli L, Nonnato A, Nicoli R, Kuuranne T, Mengozzi G, Ghigo E, Settanni F. Single-run UHPLC-MS/MS method for simultaneous quantification of endogenous steroids and their phase II metabolites in serum for anti-doping purposes. Talanta 2023; 255:124218. [PMID: 36603442 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2022.124218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Anti-doping rule violations related to the abuse of endogenous anabolic androgenic steroids can be currently discovered by the urinary steroidal module of Athlete Biological Passport. Since this powerful tool is still subjected to some limitations due to various confounding factors altering the steroid profile, alternative strategies have been constantly proposed. Among these, the measurement of blood concentrations of endogenous steroid hormones by LC-MS is currently of increasing interest in anti-doping, bringing significant advantages for the detection of testosterone abuse in females and in individuals with deletion of UGT2B17 enzyme. Although various research groups have made significant efforts in method development, there is currently no accepted or harmonized anti-doping method for quantitative analysis of the various testosterone doping markers in blood. In this study we present a UHPLC-MS/MS method for the quantification of major circulating steroid hormones together with an extended panel of glucuro- and sulpho-conjugated phase II metabolites of androgens. Chromatographic setup was optimized by comparing the performance of three different C18 stationary phases and by the careful selection of mobile phases with the aim of separating all the target steroids, including numerous isomeric/isobaric compounds. MS parameters were fine-tuned to obtain the sensitivity needed for measuring the target analytes, that show specific serum concentrations ranging from low pg/mL for less abundant compounds to μg/mL for sulpho-conjugated steroids. Finally, sample preparation protocol was developed for the extraction of steroid hormones from 200 μL of serum and the performance was evaluated in terms of extraction recovery and matrix effect. The final method was then applied to authentic serum samples collected from healthy volunteers (40 males and 40 females) at the Blood Bank of the City of Health and Science University Hospital of Turin. The analysis of these samples allowed to obtain results on serum concentrations of the targeted steroids, with particular emphasis on previously undiscovered phase II metabolites, such as the isomers of 5-androstane-3,17-diol glucuronide. This preliminary application also enabled measuring dihydrotestosterone sulphate in male samples, efficiently separating this analyte from its isomer, epiandrosterone sulphate, which circulates in blood at high concentrations. The promising results of this study are encouraging for the measurement of blood steroid profile markers in serum and plasma samples for Athlete Biological Passport purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Ponzetto
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin; Turin, Italy.
| | - Mirko Parasiliti-Caprino
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin; Turin, Italy
| | - Iacopo Gesmundo
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin; Turin, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Marinelli
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin; Turin, Italy
| | - Antonello Nonnato
- Clinical Biochemistry Laboratory; City of Health and Science University Hospital; Turin, Italy
| | - Raul Nicoli
- Swiss Laboratory for Doping Analyses, University Center of Legal Medicine Geneva and Lausanne, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois and University of Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Tiia Kuuranne
- Swiss Laboratory for Doping Analyses, University Center of Legal Medicine Geneva and Lausanne, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois and University of Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Giulio Mengozzi
- Clinical Biochemistry Laboratory; City of Health and Science University Hospital; Turin, Italy
| | - Ezio Ghigo
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin; Turin, Italy
| | - Fabio Settanni
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin; Turin, Italy; Clinical Biochemistry Laboratory; City of Health and Science University Hospital; Turin, Italy
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Moreillon B, Salamin O, Krumm B, Iannella L, Molaioni F, Kuuranne T, Nicoli R, Saugy JJ, Botrè F, Faiss R. Variability of the urinary and blood steroid profiles in healthy and physically active women with and without oral contraception. Drug Test Anal 2023; 15:324-333. [PMID: 36414566 DOI: 10.1002/dta.3412] [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: 10/13/2022] [Revised: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The steroidal module of the athlete biological passport (ABP) targets the use of pseudo-endogenous androgenous anabolic steroids in elite sport by monitoring urinary steroid profiles. Urine and blood samples were collected weekly during two consecutive oral contraceptive pill (OCP) cycles in 15 physically active women to investigate the low urinary steroid concentrations and putative confounding effect of OCP. In urine, testosterone (T) and epitestosterone (E) were below the limit of quantification of 1 ng/ml in 62% of the samples. Biomarkers' variability ranged between 31% and 41%, with a significantly lesser variability for ratios (except for T/E [41%]): 20% for androsterone/etiocholanolone (p < 0.001) and 25% for 5α-androstane-3α,17β-diol/5ß-androstane-3α,17β-diol (p < 0.001). In serum, markers' variability (testosterone: 24%, androstenedione: 23%, dihydrotestosterone: 19%, and T/A4: 16%) was significantly lower than in urine (p < 0.001). Urinary A/Etio increased by >18% after the first 2 weeks (p < 0.05) following withdrawal blood loss. In contrast, serum T (0.98 nmol/l during the first week) and T/A4 (0.34 the first week) decreased significantly by more than 25% and 17% (p < 0.05), respectively, in the following weeks. Our results outline steroidal variations during the OCP cycle, highlighting exogenous hormonal preparations as confounder for steroid concentrations in blood. Low steroid levels in urine samples have a clear negative impact on the subsequent interpretation of steroid profile of the ABP. With a greater analytical sensitivity and lesser variability for steroids in healthy active women, serum represents a complementary matrix to urine in the ABP steroidal module.
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Affiliation(s)
- Basile Moreillon
- Research and Expertise in anti-Doping Sciences (REDs), Institute of Sport Sciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Olivier Salamin
- Swiss Laboratory for Doping Analyses, University Center of Legal Medicine, Lausanne and Geneva, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Bastien Krumm
- Research and Expertise in anti-Doping Sciences (REDs), Institute of Sport Sciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Loredana Iannella
- Laboratorio Antidoping, Federazione Medico Sportiva Italiana, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Molaioni
- Laboratorio Antidoping, Federazione Medico Sportiva Italiana, Rome, Italy
| | - Tiia Kuuranne
- Swiss Laboratory for Doping Analyses, University Center of Legal Medicine, Lausanne and Geneva, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Raul Nicoli
- Swiss Laboratory for Doping Analyses, University Center of Legal Medicine, Lausanne and Geneva, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Jonas J Saugy
- Research and Expertise in anti-Doping Sciences (REDs), Institute of Sport Sciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Francesco Botrè
- Research and Expertise in anti-Doping Sciences (REDs), Institute of Sport Sciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.,Laboratorio Antidoping, Federazione Medico Sportiva Italiana, Rome, Italy
| | - Raphael Faiss
- Research and Expertise in anti-Doping Sciences (REDs), Institute of Sport Sciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
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