Measuring NAD(+) levels in mouse blood and tissue samples via a surrogate matrix approach using LC-MS/MS

Development and validation of an LC-MS/MS method for quantifying NAD+ and related metabolites in mice sciatic nerves and its application to a nerve injury animal model

Recent studies highlight the pivotal roles of Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) and its metabolites in aging and neurodegeneration. Accurate quantification of NAD+ and its metabolite levels in cells or tissues is crucial for advancing biochemical research and interventions targeting aging and neurodegenerative diseases. This study presents an accurate, precise, and rapid LC-MS/MS method using a surrogate matrix to quantify endogenous substances NAD+, nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), nicotinamide (NAM), adenosine diphosphate ribose (ADPR), and cyclic adenosine diphosphate ribose (cADPR) concentrations in mice sciatic nerves. Considering the properties of the phosphate groups in the analytes, the column and mobile phase were systematically optimized. These five polar analytes exhibited excellent analytical performance and baseline separation within 5 min on an Atlantis Premier BEH C18 AX column, with methylene phosphonic acid as a mobile phase additive. Enhanced sensitivity addressed the challenges posed by the small sample size of mice sciatic nerve and low NMN and cADPR detection. The method was fully validated, with linear correlation coefficients exceeding 0.992, precision (%relative standard deviation, RSD) values within 8.8%, and accuracy values between 92.2% and 107.3%, suggesting good reproducibility. Analytical recoveries in spiked and diluted matrix ranged from 87.8% to 104.7%, indicating the suitability of water as a surrogate matrix. Application of the method to quantify NAD+ and its metabolite levels in normal and injured mice sciatic nerve identified cADPR as a sensitive biomarker in the nerve injury model. This method is anticipated to deepen our understanding of the connections between NAD+ and its metabolites in health and disease, potentially improving diagnoses of various neurological disorders and aiding drug development for aging and neurodegenerative diseases.

Quantification of NAD + T 1 and T 2 relaxation times using downfield 1 H MRS at 7 T in human brain in vivo

Introduction

The purpose of this study was to use a single-slice spectrally-selective sequence to measure T 1 and T 2 relaxation times of NAD + proton resonances in the downfield 1 H MRS spectrum in human brain at 7 T in vivo and assess the propagation of relaxation time uncertainty in NAD + quantification.

Methods

Downfield spectra from 7 healthy volunteers were acquired at multiple echo times in all subjects to measure T 2 relaxation, and saturation recovery data were to measure T 1 relaxation. The downfield acquisition used a spectrally-selective 90° sinc pulse for excitation centered at 9.1 ppm with a bandwidth of 2 ppm, followed by a 180° spatially-selective Shinnar-Le Roux refocusing pulse for localization. For the multiple echo experiment, spectra were collected with echo times ranging from 13 to 33 ms. For the saturation recovery experiment, saturation was performed prior to excitation using the same spectrally-selective sinc pulse as was used for excitation. Saturation delay times (TS) ranged from 100 to 600 ms. Uncertainty propagation analysis was performed analytically and with Monte Carlo simulation.

Results

The mean ± standard deviation of T 1 relaxation times of the H2, H6, and H4 protons were 152.7 ± 16.6, 163.6 ± 22.3, and 169.9 ± 11.2 ms, respectively. The mean ± standard deviation of T 2 relaxation times of the H2, H6, and H4 protons were 32.5 ± 7.0, 27.4 ± 5.2, and 38.1 ± 11.7 ms, respectively. The mean R 2 of the H2 and H6 T 1 fits were 0.98. The mean R 2 of the H4 proton T 1 fit was 0.96. The mean R 2 of the T 2 fits of the H2 and H4 proton resonances were 0.98, while the mean R 2 of the T 2 fits of the H4 proton was 0.93. The relative uncertainty in NAD + concentration due to relaxation time uncertainty was 8.5%-11%.

Conclusion

Using downfield spectrally-selective spectroscopy with single-slice localization, we found NAD + T 1 and T 2 relaxation times to be approximately 162 ms and 32 ms respectively in the human brain in vivo at 7 T.

A Simple, Fast, Sensitive LC-MS/MS Method to Quantify NAD(H) in Biological Samples: Plasma NAD(H) Measurement to Monitor Brain Pathophysiology

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) is a cofactor in redox reactions and an essential mediator of energy metabolism. The redox balance between NAD+ and NADH affects various diseases, cell differentiation, and aging, and in recent years there has been a growing need for measurement techniques with improved accuracy. However, NAD(H) measurements, representing both NAD+ and NADH, have been limited by the compound's properties. We achieved highly sensitive simultaneous measurement of NAD+ and NADH under non-ion pairing, mobile phase conditions of water, or methanol containing 5 mM ammonium acetate. These were achieved using a simple pre-treatment and 7-min analysis time. Use of the stable isotope 13C5-NAD+ as an internal standard enabled validation close to BMV criteria and demonstrated the robustness of NAD(H) determination. Measurements using this method showed that brain NAD(H) levels correlate strongly with plasma NAD(H) levels in the same mouse, indicating that NAD(H) concentrations in brain tissue are reflected in plasma. As NAD(H) is involved in various neurodegenerative diseases and cerebral ischemia, as well as brain diseases such as mitochondrial myopathies, monitoring changes in NADH levels in plasma after drug administration will be useful for development of future diagnostics and therapeutics.

NAD+ Precursors Reverse Experimental Diabetic Neuropathy in Mice

Abnormal NAD+ signaling has been implicated in axonal degeneration in diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). We hypothesized that supplementing NAD+ precursors could alleviate DPN symptoms through increasing the NAD+ levels and activating the sirtuin-1 (SIRT1) protein. To test this, we exposed cultured Dorsal Root Ganglion neurons (DRGs) to Nicotinamide Riboside (NR) or Nicotinamide Mononucleotide (NMN), which increased the levels of NAD+, the SIRT1 protein, and the deacetylation activity that is associated with increased neurite growth. A SIRT1 inhibitor blocked the neurite growth induced via NR or NMN. We then induced neuropathy in C57BL6 mice with streptozotocin (STZ) or a high fat diet (HFD) and administered NR or NMN for two months. Both the STZ and HFD mice developed neuropathy, which was reversed through the NR or NMN administration: sensory function improved, nerve conduction velocities normalized, and intraepidermal nerve fibers were restored. The NAD+ levels and SIRT1 activity were reduced in the DRGs from diabetic mice but were preserved with the NR or NMN treatment. We also tested the effect of NR or NMN administration in mice that overexpress the SIRT1 protein in neurons (nSIRT1 OE) and found no additional benefit from the addition of the drug. These findings suggest that supplementing with NAD+ precursors or activating SIRT1 may be a promising treatment for DPN.

Blood levels of nicotinic acid negatively correlate with hearing ability in healthy older men

BACKGROUND

Age-related hearing loss (ARHL) is a common phenomenon observed during aging. On the other hand, the decrease in Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD +) levels is reported to be closely related to the age-related declines in physiological functions such as ARHL in animal studies. Moreover, preclinical studies confirmed NAD + replenishment effectively prevents the onset of age-related diseases. However, there is a paucity of studies on the relationship between NAD⁺ metabolism and ARHL in humans.

METHODS

This study was analyzed the baseline results of our previous clinical trial, in which nicotinamide mononucleotide or placebo was administered to 42 older men (Igarashi et al., NPJ Aging 8:5, 2022). The correlations between blood levels of NAD⁺-related metabolites at baseline and pure-tone hearing thresholds at different frequencies (125, 250, 500, 1000, 2000, 4000, and 8000 Hz) in 42 healthy Japanese men aged > 65 years were analyzed using Spearman's rank correlation. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed with hearing thresholds as the dependent variable and age and NAD⁺-related metabolite levels as independent variables.

RESULTS

Positive associations were observed between levels of nicotinic acid (NA, a NAD⁺ precursor in the Preiss-Handler pathway) and right- or left-ear hearing thresholds at frequencies of 1000 Hz (right: r = 0.480, p = 0.001; left: r = 0.422, p = 0.003), 2000 Hz (right: r = 0.507, p < 0.001, left: r = 0.629, p < 0.001), and 4000 Hz (left: r = 0.366, p = 0.029). Age-adjusted multiple linear regression analysis revealed that NA was an independent predictor of elevated hearing thresholds (1000 Hz (right): p = 0.050, regression coefficient (β) = 1610; 1000 Hz (left): p = 0.026, β = 2179; 2000 Hz (right): p = 0.022, β = 2317; 2000 Hz (left): p = 0.002, β = 3257). Weak associations of nicotinic acid riboside (NAR) and nicotinamide (NAM) with hearing ability were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

We identified negative correlations between blood concentrations of NA and hearing ability at 1000 and 2000 Hz. NAD⁺ metabolic pathway might be associated with ARHL onset or progression. Further studies are warranted.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

The study was registered at UMIN-CTR (UMIN000036321) on 1st June 2019.

Meta-analysis of NAD(P)(H) quantification results exhibits variability across mammalian tissues

Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide (NAD+) plays an important role in energy metabolism and signaling pathways controlling crucial cellular functions. The increased interest in NAD+ metabolism and NAD+-boosting therapies has reinforced the necessity for accurate NAD+ quantification. To examine the published NAD(P)(H) measures across mammalian tissues, we performed a meta-analysis of the existing data. An Ovid MEDLINE database search identified articles with NAD(P)(H) quantification results obtained from mammalian tissues published between 1961 and 2021. We screened 4890 records and extracted quantitative data, as well as the quantification methods, pre-analytical conditions, and subject characteristics. The extracted physiological NAD(P)(H) concentrations in various tissues from mice, rats, and humans, revealed an important inter- and intra-method variability that extended to recent publications. This highlights the relatively poor potential for cross-experimental analyses for NAD(P)(H) quantitative data and the importance of standardization for NAD(P)(H) quantification methods and pre-analytical procedures for future preclinical and clinical studies.

NAD+ Precursors Repair Mitochondrial Function in Diabetes and Prevent Experimental Diabetic Neuropathy

Axon degeneration in diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is associated with impaired NAD+ metabolism. We tested whether the administration of NAD+ precursors, nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) or nicotinamide riboside (NR), prevents DPN in models of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. NMN was administered to streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats and STZ-induced diabetic mice by intraperitoneal injection at 50 or 100 mg/kg on alternate days for 2 months. mice The were fed with a high fat diet (HFD) for 2 months with or without added NR at 150 or 300 mg/kg for 2 months. The administration of NMN to STZ-induced diabetic rats or mice or dietary addition of NR to HFD-fed mice improved sensory function, normalized sciatic and tail nerve conduction velocities, and prevented loss of intraepidermal nerve fibers in skin samples from the hind-paw. In adult dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons isolated from HFD-fed mice, there was a decrease in NAD+ levels and mitochondrial maximum reserve capacity. These impairments were normalized in isolated DRG neurons from NR-treated mice. The results indicate that the correction of NAD+ depletion in DRG may be sufficient to prevent DPN but does not significantly affect glucose tolerance, insulin levels, or insulin resistance.

CD38 activation by monosodium urate crystals contributes to inflammatory responses in human and murine macrophages

Cluster of differentiation (CD) 38, a major enzyme for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD⁺) degradation, plays a key role in inflammation. Meanwhile, intracellular NAD⁺ decline is also associated with inflammatory responses. However, whether CD38 activation is involved in gouty inflammation has not been elucidated. The present study aimed to clarify the role of CD38 in monosodium urate crystals (MSU)-triggered inflammatory responses. The results showed that MSU crystals increased the protein expression of CD38 in time- and concentration-dependent manner in THP-1 macrophages and mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs). Moreover, intracellular NAD⁺ levels were reduced by MSU crystals along with the increased IL-1β release. However, CD38 inhibition by 78c elevated intracellular NAD⁺ levels and suppressed IL-1β release in MSU crystals-treated THP-1 macrophages and BMDMs. Interestingly, CD38 inhibition without significant elevation of intracellular NAD⁺ also decreased IL-1β release driven by MSU crystals in THP-1 macrophages. In conclusion, the present study revealed that MSU crystals could activate CD38 with the ensuing intracellular NAD⁺ decline to promote inflammatory responses in THP-1 macrophages and BMDMs, while CD38 inhibition could suppress MSU crystals-triggered inflammatory responses, indicating that CD38 is a potential therapeutic target for gout.

Simultaneous quantification of 26 NAD-related metabolites in plasma, blood, and liver tissue using UHPLC-MS/MS

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) is a key metabolic intermediate found in all cells and involved in numerous cellular functions. Perturbances in the NAD metabolome are linked to various diseases such as diabetes and schizophrenia, and to congenital malformations and recurrent miscarriage. Mouse models are central to the investigation of these and other NAD-related conditions because mice can be readily genetically modified and treated with diets with altered concentrations of NAD precursors. Simultaneous quantification of as many metabolites of the NAD metabolome as possible is required to understand which pathways are affected in these disease conditions and what are the functional consequences. Here, we report the development of a fit-for-purpose method to simultaneously quantify 26 NAD-related metabolites and creatinine in mouse plasma, whole blood, and liver tissue using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography - tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS). The included metabolites represent dietary precursors, intermediates, enzymatic cofactors, and excretion products. Sample preparation was optimized for each matrix and included 21 isotope-labeled internal standards. The method reached adequate precision and accuracy for the intended context of use of exploratory pathway-related biomarker discovery in mouse models. The method was tested by determining metabolite concentrations in mice fed a special diet with defined precursor content.

Advantages of formate dehydrogenase reaction for efficient NAD+ quantification in biological samples

The medical significance of NAD⁺-dependent metabolic regulation acquires increasing attention, demanding rapid and clinically feasible quantification of NAD⁺ in complex biological samples. Here we describe the usage of formate dehydrogenase for a straightforward and highly specific fluorometric assay of NAD⁺ in tissue extracts, not requiring chromatographic separation of nucleotides. The assay employs the irreversible reaction of formate oxidation coupled to NAD⁺ reduction, catalyzed by the enzyme which has high affinity and specificity to NAD⁺, and is stable under a variety of conditions. The assay reliably quantifies NAD⁺ in the methanol extracts of the rat brain cortex and mitochondria.

Nicotinamide Mononucleotide Administration Prevents Experimental Diabetes-Induced Cognitive Impairment and Loss of Hippocampal Neurons

Diabetes predisposes to cognitive decline leading to dementia and is associated with decreased brain NAD⁺ levels. This has triggered an intense interest in boosting nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD⁺) levels to prevent dementia. We tested if the administration of the precursor of NAD⁺, nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), can prevent diabetes-induced memory deficits. Diabetes was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats by the administration of streptozotocin (STZ). After 3 months of diabetes, hippocampal NAD⁺ levels were decreased (p = 0.011). In vivo localized high-resolution proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) of the hippocampus showed an increase in the levels of glucose (p < 0.001), glutamate (p < 0.001), gamma aminobutyric acid (p = 0.018), myo-inositol (p = 0.018), and taurine (p < 0.001) and decreased levels of N-acetyl aspartate (p = 0.002) and glutathione (p < 0.001). There was a significant decrease in hippocampal CA1 neuronal volume (p < 0.001) and neuronal number (p < 0.001) in the Diabetic rats. Diabetic rats showed hippocampal related memory deficits. Intraperitoneal NMN (100 mg/kg) was given after induction and confirmation of diabetes and was provided on alternate days for 3 months. NMN increased brain NAD⁺ levels, normalized the levels of glutamate, taurine, N-acetyl aspartate (NAA), and glutathione. NMN-treatment prevented the loss of CA1 neurons and rescued the memory deficits despite having no significant effect on hyperglycemic or lipidemic control. In hippocampal protein extracts from Diabetic rats, SIRT1 and PGC-1α protein levels were decreased, and acetylation of proteins increased. NMN treatment prevented the diabetes-induced decrease in both SIRT1 and PGC-1α and promoted deacetylation of proteins. Our results indicate that NMN increased brain NAD⁺, activated the SIRT1 pathway, preserved mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) function, prevented neuronal loss, and preserved cognition in Diabetic rats.

NMR assignment of the in vivo daphnia magna metabolome

Daphnia (freshwater fleas) are among the most widely used organisms in regulatory aquatic toxicology/ecology, while their recent listing as an NIH model organism is stimulating research for understanding human diseases and processes.

Single-Voxel 1 H MR spectroscopy of cerebral nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+ ) in humans at 7T using a 32-channel volume coil

PURPOSE

Reliable monitoring of tissue nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD⁺ ) concentration may provide insights on its roles in normal and pathological aging. In the present study, we report a ¹ H MRS pulse sequence for the in vivo, localized ¹ H MRS detection of NAD⁺ from the human brain.

METHODS

Studies were carried out on a 7T Siemens MRI scanner using a 32-channel product volume coil. The pulse sequence consisted of a spectrally selective low bandwidth E-BURP-1 90° pulse. PRESS localization was achieved using optimized Shinnar-Le Roux 180° pulses and overlapping gradients were used to minimize the TE. The reproducibility of NAD⁺ quantification was measured in 11 healthy volunteers. The association of cerebral NAD⁺ with age was assessed in 16 healthy subjects 26-78 years old.

RESULTS

Spectra acquired from a voxel placed in subjects' occipital lobe consisted of downfield peaks from the H₂ , H₄ , and H₆ protons of the nicotinamide moiety of NAD⁺ between 8.9-9.35 ppm. The mean ± SD within-session and between-session coefficients of variation were found to be 6.14 ± 2.03% and 6.09 ± 3.20%, respectively. In healthy volunteers, an age-dependent decline of the NAD⁺ levels in the brain was also observed (β = -1.24 μM/y, SE = 0.21, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

We demonstrated the feasibility and robustness of a newly developed ¹ H MRS technique to measure localized cerebral NAD⁺ at 7T MRI using a commercially available RF head coil. This technique may be further applied to detect and quantify NAD⁺ from different regions of the brain as well as from other tissues.

Exogenous nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide regulates energy metabolism via hypothalamic connexin 43

BACKGROUND

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD)-dependent deacetylase SIRT1 is an important regulator of hypothalamic neuronal function. Thus, an adequate hypothalamic NAD content is critical for maintaining normal energy homeostasis.

METHODS

We investigated whether NAD supplementation increases hypothalamic NAD levels and affects energy metabolism in mice. Furthermore, we investigated the mechanisms underlying the effects of exogenous NAD on central metabolism upon entering the hypothalamus.

RESULTS

Central and peripheral NAD administration suppressed fasting-induced hyperphagia and weight gain in mice. Extracellular NAD was imported into N1 hypothalamic neuronal cells in a connexin 43-dependent and CD73-independent manner. Consistent with the in vitro data, inhibition of hypothalamic connexin 43 blocked hypothalamic NAD uptake and NAD-induced anorexia. Exogenous NAD suppressed NPY and AgRP transcriptional activity, which was mediated by SIRT1 and FOXO1.

CONCLUSIONS

Exogenous NAD is effectively transported to the hypothalamus via a connexin 43-dependent mechanism and increases hypothalamic NAD content. Therefore, NAD supplementation is a potential therapeutic method for metabolic disorders characterized by hypothalamic NAD depletion.

The nanomolar sensing of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide in human plasma using a cycling assay in albumin modified simulated body fluids

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD), a prominent member of the pyridine nucleotide family, plays a pivotal role in cell-oxidation protection, DNA repair, cell signalling and central metabolic pathways, such as beta oxidation, glycolysis and the citric acid cycle. In particular, extracellular NAD⁺ has recently been demonstrated to moderate pathogenesis of multiple systemic diseases as well as aging. Herein we present an assaying method, that serves to quantify extracellular NAD⁺ in human heparinised plasma and exhibits a sensitivity ranging from the low micromolar into the low nanomolar domain. The assay achieves the quantification of extracellular NAD⁺ by means of a two-step enzymatic cycling reaction, based on alcohol dehydrogenase. An albumin modified revised simulated body fluid was employed as standard matrix in order to optimise enzymatic activity and enhance the linear behaviour and sensitivity of the method. In addition, we evaluated assay linearity, reproducibility and confirmed long-term storage stability of extracellular NAD⁺ in frozen human heparinised plasma. In summary, our findings pose a novel standardised method suitable for high throughput screenings of extracellular NAD⁺ levels in human heparinised plasma, paving the way for new clinical discovery studies.

Cardiotoxicity Associated with Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase Inhibitors in Rodents and in Rat and Human-Derived Cells Lines

Nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) is a pleiotropic protein that functions as an enzyme, cytokine, growth factor and hormone. As a target for oncology, NAMPT is particularly attractive, because it catalyzes the rate-limiting step in the salvage pathway to generate nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD), a universal energy- and signal-carrying molecule involved in cellular energy metabolism and many homeostatic functions. Inhibition of NAMPT generally results in NAD depletion, followed by ATP reduction and loss of cell viability. Herein, we describe NAMPT inhibitor (NAMPTi)-induced cardiac toxicity in rodents following short-term administration (2-7 days) of NAMPTi's. The cardiac toxicity was interpreted as a functional effect leading to congestive heart failure, characterized by sudden death, thoracic and abdominal effusion, and myocardial degeneration. Based on exposures in the initial in vivo safety rodent studies and cardiotoxicity observed, we conducted studies in rat and human in vitro cardiomyocyte cell systems. Based on those results, combined with human cell line potency data, we demonstrated the toxicity is both on-target and likely human relevant. This toxicity was mitigated in vitro by co-administration of nicotinic acid (NA), which can enable NAD production through the NAMPT-independent pathway; however, this resulted in only partial mitigation in in vivo studies. This work also highlights the usefulness and predictivity of in vitro cardiomyocyte assays using human cells to rank-order compounds against potency in cell-based pharmacology assays. Lastly, this work strengthens the correlation between cardiomyocyte cell viability and functionality, suggesting that these assays together may enable early assessment of cardiotoxicity in vitro prior to conduct of in vivo studies and potentially reduce subsequent attrition due to cardiotoxicity.

Quantitative GC-MS assay of citric acid from humans and db/db mice blood serum to assist the diagnosis of diabetic nephropathy

The early diagnosis of diabetic nephropathy (DN) is rather challenging. Our previous study suggested that citric acid is a potential marker for the early diagnosis of diabetic nephropathy in db/db mice. For the first time, in this study, a surrogate analyte of ¹³C₆-citric acid was employed to generate calibration curves for the quantitative measurement of the endogenous citric acid in the sera of db/db mice and diabetic nephropathy patients by GC/MS after the analytes were extracted, methoximated and trimethylsilylated. The constant response factor of ¹³C₆-citric acid versus citric acid over the linear range indicated the identical ionization efficiency of these two compounds. The full validation assessments suggested that the method is sensitive, specific, reliable, reproducible and has acceptable parameters. Statistical analysis revealed cut-off citric acid concentrations of 29.24 μg/mL with a 95% confidence interval between 32.75 and 39.16 μg/mL in the diabetic nephropathy patients and 16.74 and 22.57 μg/mL in the normal controls. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves indicated accuracies of over 90% for the diagnoses of early diabetic nephropathy in both humans and db/db mice, which suggests that the serum citric acid level is potentially a biomarker that could assist in the diagnosis of diabetic nephropathy.

Whole Blood Metabolomics by 1H NMR Spectroscopy Provides a New Opportunity To Evaluate Coenzymes and Antioxidants

Conventional human blood metabolomics employs serum or plasma and provides a wealth of metabolic information therein. However, this approach lacks the ability to measure and evaluate important metabolites such as coenzymes and antioxidants that are present at high concentrations in red blood cells. As an important alternative to serum/plasma metabolomics, we show here that a simple 1H NMR experiment can simultaneously measure coenzymes and antioxidants in extracts of whole human blood, in addition to the nearly 70 metabolites that were shown to be quantitated in serum/plasma recently [ Anal. Chem. 2015 , 87 , 706 - 715 ]. Coenzymes of redox reactions: oxidized/reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+ and NADH) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP+ and NADPH); coenzymes of energy including adenosine triphosphate (ATP), adenosine diphosphate (ADP), and adenosine monophosphate (AMP); and antioxidants, the sum of oxidized and reduced glutathione (GSSG and GSH) can be measured with essentially no additional effort. A new method was developed for detecting many of these unstable species without affecting other blood/blood plasma metabolites. The identities of coenzymes and antioxidants in blood NMR spectra were established combining 1D/2D NMR techniques, chemical shift databases, pH measurements and, finally, spiking with authentic compounds. This is the first study to report identification of major coenzymes and antioxidants and quantify them, simultaneously, with the large pool of other metabolites in human blood using NMR spectroscopy. Considering that the levels of coenzymes and antioxidants represent a sensitive measure of cellular functions in health and numerous diseases, the NMR method presented here potentially opens a new chapter in the metabolomics of blood.

Surrogate analyte approach for quantitation of endogenous NAD(+) in human acidified blood samples using liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

A high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) assay for the quantitative determination of NAD(+) in human whole blood using a surrogate analyte approach was developed and validated. Human whole blood was acidified using 0.5N perchloric acid at a ratio of 1:3 (v:v, blood:perchloric acid) during sample collection. 25μL of acidified blood was extracted using a protein precipitation method and the resulting extracts were analyzed using reverse-phase chromatography and positive electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. (13)C5-NAD(+) was used as the surrogate analyte for authentic analyte, NAD(+). The standard curve ranging from 0.250 to 25.0μg/mL in acidified human blood for (13)C5-NAD(+) was fitted to a 1/x(2) weighted linear regression model. The LC-MS/MS response between surrogate analyte and authentic analyte at the same concentration was obtained before and after the batch run. This response factor was not applied when determining the NAD(+) concentration from the (13)C5-NAD(+) standard curve since the percent difference was less than 5%. The precision and accuracy of the LC-MS/MS assay based on the five analytical QC levels were well within the acceptance criteria from both FDA and EMA guidance for bioanalytical method validation. Average extraction recovery of (13)C5-NAD(+) was 94.6% across the curve range. Matrix factor was 0.99 for both high and low QC indicating minimal ion suppression or enhancement. The validated assay was used to measure the baseline level of NAD(+) in 29 male and 21 female human subjects. This assay was also used to study the circadian effect of endogenous level of NAD(+) in 10 human subjects.

Surrogate matrix: opportunities and challenges for tissue sample analysis

Often there is limited availability of matching tissue matrix and/or the analyte may occur endogenously in the target tissue. Surrogate matrix provides an option for quantitation of drug, metabolite(s) and biomarker(s) in these circumstances. However, the use of a surrogate matrix also presents challenges. This paper summarizes and discusses the challenges of selecting a proper surrogate, validating the suitability of the surrogate and establishing a surrogate tissue method using the fit-for-purpose approach. This paper also systematically reviews the current practices for evaluating key parameters of a surrogate tissue assay, including sensitivity, specificity, selectivity, interference, precision, accuracy, recovery, matrix effects and stability. Considerations and suggestions are provided for dealing with such challenges during method establishment and tissue sample analysis.