Targeted chiral lipidomics analysis of bioactive eicosanoid lipids in cellular systems

Enantioselectivity Effects in Clinical Metabolomics and Lipidomics

Metabolomics and lipidomics have demonstrated increasing importance in underlying biochemical mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of diseases to identify novel drug targets and/or biomarkers for establishing therapeutic approaches for human health. Particularly, bioactive metabolites and lipids have biological activity and have been implicated in various biological processes in physiological conditions. Thus, comprehensive metabolites, and lipids profiling are required to obtain further advances in understanding pathophysiological changes that occur in cells and tissues. Chirality is one of the most important phenomena in living organisms and has attracted long-term interest in medical and natural science. Enantioselective separation plays a pivotal role in understanding the distribution and physiological function of a diversity of chiral bioactive molecules. In this context, it has been the goal of method development for targeted and untargeted metabolomics and lipidomic assays. Herein we will highlight the benefits and challenges involved in these stereoselective analyses for clinical samples.

A concise review on lipidomics analysis in biological samples

Lipids are a complex and critical heterogeneous molecular entity, playing an intricate and key role in understanding biological activities and disease processes. Lipidomics aims to quantitatively define the lipid classes, including their molecular species. The analysis of the biological tissues and fluids are challenging due to the extreme sample complexity and occurrence of the molecular species as isomers or isobars. This review documents the overview of lipidomics workflow, beginning from the approaches of sample preparation, various analytical techniques and emphasizing the state-of-the-art mass spectrometry either by shotgun or coupled with liquid chromatography. We have considered the latest ion mobility spectroscopy technologies to deal with the vast number of structural isomers, different imaging techniques. All these techniques have their pitfalls and we have discussed how to circumvent them after reviewing the power of each technique with examples..

Ecotoxico-lipidomics: An emerging concept to understand chemical-metabolic relationships in comparative fish models

Lipids play an essential role in development, homeostatic functions, immune signaling, reproduction, and growth. Although it is evident that changes in lipid biosynthesis and metabolism can affect organismal physiology, few studies have determined how environmental stressors affect lipid pathways, let alone alter global lipid profiles in fish. This is a significant research gap, as a number of environmental contaminants interact with lipid signaling and metabolic pathways. In this review, we highlight the utility of lipidomics as a tool in environmental toxicology, discussing the current state of knowledge regarding chemical-lipidomic perturbations. As with most oviparous animals, the processing and storage of lipids during oocyte development is also particularly important for embryogenesis in fish. Using largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) as an example, transcriptomics data suggest that various chemicals alter lipid metabolism and regulation, highlighting the need for more sophisticated investigations into how toxicants impact lipid responses. We also point out the challenges ahead; these include a lack of understanding about lipid processing and signaling in fish, tissue and species-specific lipid composition, and extraneous factors (e.g., nutrition, temperature) that confound interpretation. For example, toxicant exposure can lead to oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation, resulting in complex lipid byproducts that are challenging to measure. With the emergence of lipidomics in systems toxicology, multi-omics approaches are expected to more clearly define effects on physiology, creating stronger linkages between multiple molecular entities (gene-protein-lipid/metabolite). The development and implementation of novel technologies such as ion mobility-mass spectrometry and ozone-induced dissociation support the complete structural elucidation of lipid molecules. This has implications in the adverse outcome pathway framework, which will enhance the application of lipidomics in toxicology by linking these molecular changes to effects at higher levels of biological organization.

Development and validation of a rapid, specific and sensitive LC-MS/MS bioanalytical method for eicosanoid quantification - assessment of arachidonic acid metabolic pathway activity in hypertensive rats

Lipid mediators such as eicosanoids maintain various physiological processes, and their alterations are involved in the development of numerous cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, the reliable assessment of their profile could be helpful in diagnosis as well as in eicosanoid biomarker-based treatment. Hence, the presented study aimed to develop and validate a new rapid, specific and sensitive LC-MS/MS method for quantification of arachidonic acid-derived eicosanoids in plasma, including lipid mediators generated via COX-, LOX- and CYP450-dependent pathways. The developed method features high sensitivity because the lower limit of quantification ranged from 0.05 to 0.50 ng mL^-1 as well as the accuracy and precision estimated within 88.88-111.25% and 1.03-11.82%, respectively. An application of a simple and fast liquid-liquid extraction procedure for sample cleaning resulted in a highly satisfactory recovery of the analytes (>88.30%). Additionally, the method was validated using artificial plasma, an approach that enabled the elimination of the matrix effect caused by an endogenous concentration of studied lipid mediators. Importantly, the presented LC-MS/MS method allowed for simultaneous quantitative and qualitative [quan/qual] analysis of the selected eicosanoids, leading to an additional improvement of the method specificity. Moreover, the validated method was successfully applied for eicosanoid profiling in rat, mouse and human plasma samples, clearly demonstrating the heterogeneity of the profile of studied lipid mediators in those species.

Methods of the Analysis of Oxylipins in Biological Samples

Oxylipins are derivatives of polyunsaturated fatty acids and due to their important and diverse functions in the body, they have become a popular subject of studies. The main challenge for researchers is their low stability and often very low concentration in samples. Therefore, in recent years there have been developments in the extraction and analysis methods of oxylipins. New approaches in extraction methods were described in our previous review. In turn, the old analysis methods have been replaced by new approaches based on mass spectrometry (MS) coupled with liquid chromatography (LC) and gas chromatography (GC), and the best of these methods allow hundreds of oxylipins to be quantitatively identified. This review presents comparative and comprehensive information on the progress of various methods used by various authors to achieve the best results in the analysis of oxylipins in biological samples.

Immune responsive resolvin D1 programs peritoneal macrophages and cardiac fibroblast phenotypes in diversified metabolic microenvironment

Bioactive lipid mediators derived from n-3 and n-6 fatty acids are known to modulate leukocytes. Metabolic transformation of essential fatty acids to endogenous bioactive molecules plays a major role in human health. Here we tested the potential of substrates; linoleic acid (LA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and their bioactive products; resolvin D1 (RvD1) and 12- S-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids (HETE) to modulate macrophage plasticity and cardiac fibroblast phenotype in presence or absence of lipid metabolizing enzyme 12/15-lipoxygenase (LOX). Peritoneal macrophages and cardiac fibroblasts were isolated from wild-type (C57BL/6J) and 12/15LOX ^-/- mice and treated with DHA, LA, 12(S)-HETE, and RvD1 for 4, 8, 12, and 24 hr. LA, DHA, 12(S)-HETE, and RvD1 elicited mRNA expression of proinflammatory markers; tumor necrosis factor-α ( Tnf-α), interleukin 6 ( IL-6), chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2  (Ccl2), and IL-1β in wild type (WT) and in 12/15LOX ^-/- macrophages at early time point (4 hr). Bioactive immunoresolvent RvD1 lowered the levels of Tnf-α, IL-6, and IL-1β at 24 hr time point. Both DHA and RvD1 stimulated the proresolving markers such as arginase 1 ( Arg-1), chitinase-like protein 3 ( Ym-1), and mannose receptor C-type 1 in WT macrophage. RvD1 induced proresolving phenotype Arg-1 expression in both WT 12/15LOX ^-/- macrophages even in presence of 12(S)-HETE. RvD1 peaked 5LOX expression in both WT and 12/15LOX ^-/- at 24 hr time point compared with DHA. RvD1 diminished cyclooxygenase-2 but upregulated 5LOX expression in fibroblast compared with DHA. In summary, the feed-forward enzymatic interaction with fatty acids substrates and direct mediators (RvD1 and 12(S)-HETE) are responsive in determining macrophages phenotype and cardiac fibroblast plasticity. Particularly, macrophages and fibroblast phenotypes are responsive to milieu and RvD1 governs the milieu-dependent chemokine signaling in presence or absence of 12/15LOX enzyme to resolve inflammation.

The Eicosanoids, Redox-Regulated Lipid Mediators in Immunometabolic Disorders

SIGNIFICANCE

The oxidation of arachidonic acid via cyclooxygenase (COX) and lipoxygenase (LOX) activity to produce eicosanoids during inflammation is a well-known biosynthetic pathway. These lipid mediators are involved in fever, pain, and thrombosis and are produced from multiple cells as well as cell/cell interactions, for example, immune cells and epithelial/endothelial cells. Metabolic disorders, including hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and diabetes, are linked with chronic low-grade inflammation, impacting the immune system and promoting a variety of chronic diseases. Recent Advances: Multiple studies have corroborated the important function of eicosanoids and their receptors in (non)-inflammatory cells in immunometabolic disorders (e.g., insulin resistance, obesity, and cardiovascular and nonalcoholic fatty liver diseases). In this context, LOX and COX products are involved in both pro- and anti-inflammatory responses. In addition, recent work has elucidated the potent function of specialized proresolving mediators (i.e., lipoxins and resolvins) in resolving inflammation, protecting organs, and stimulating tissue repair and remodeling.

CRITICAL ISSUES

Inhibiting/stimulating selected eicosanoid pathways may result in anti-inflammatory and proresolution responses leading to multiple beneficial effects, including the abrogation of reactive oxygen species production, increased speed of resolution, and overall improvement of diseases related to immunometabolic perturbations.

FUTURE DIRECTIONS

Despite many achievements, it is crucial to understand the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying immunological/metabolic cross talk to offer substantial therapeutic promise. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 29, 275-296.

Targeted lipidomic strategies for oxygenated metabolites of polyunsaturated fatty acids

Oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) through enzymatic or non-enzymatic free radical-mediated reactions can yield an array of lipid metabolites including eicosanoids, octadecanoids, docosanoids and related species. In mammals, these oxygenated PUFA mediators play prominent roles in the physiological and pathological regulation of many key biological processes in the cardiovascular, renal, reproductive and other systems including their pivotal contribution to inflammation. Mass spectrometry-based technology platforms have revolutionized our ability to analyze the complex mixture of lipid mediators found in biological samples, with increased numbers of metabolites that can be simultaneously quantified from a single sample in few analytical steps. The recent development of high-sensitivity and high-throughput analytical tools for lipid mediators affords a broader view of these oxygenated PUFA species, and facilitates research into their role in health and disease. In this review, we illustrate current analytical approaches for a high-throughput lipidomic analysis of eicosanoids and related mediators in biological samples. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled "Oxygenated metabolism of PUFA: analysis and biological relevance."

Comprehensive quantitative determination of PUFA-related bioactive lipids for functional lipidomics using high-resolution mass spectrometry

A wide range of biologically active lipids such as eicosanoids, docosanoids, and other lipid mediators are known for their physiological and pathophysiological effects in almost every organ system. It is essential that the full spectrum of these compounds is comprehensively captured, to fully characterize their biological activity. The analytical determination of these lipid mediators is challenging, however, mainly because of their biological diversity and their physicochemical similarity. LC-MS/MS, in particular in combination with high-resolution instruments, is currently the most powerful tool for analysis of lipid mediators. This chapter describes a comprehensive analytical protocol that allows for simultaneous profiling of over 100 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA)-derived metabolites using a single analytical method from a wide range of biological matrices.

Novel liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry method shows that vitamin E deficiency depletes arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acids in zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos

To test the hypothesis that embryogenesis depends upon α-tocopherol (E) to protect embryo polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) from lipid peroxidation, new methodologies were applied to measure α-tocopherol and fatty acids in extracts from saponified zebrafish embryos. A solid phase extraction method was developed to separate the analyte classes, using a mixed mode cartridge (reverse phase, π–π bonding, strong anion exchange), then α-tocopherol and cholesterol were measured using standard techniques, while the fatty acids were quantitated using a novel, reverse phase liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS) approach. We also determined if α-tocopherol status alters embryonic lipid peroxidation products by analyzing 24 different oxidized products of arachidonic or docosahexaenoic (DHA) acids in embryos using LC with hybrid quadrupole-time of flight MS. Adult zebrafish were fed E− or E+ diets for 4 months, and then were spawned to obtain E− and E+ embryos. Between 24 and 72 hours post-fertilization (hpf), arachidonic acid decreased 3-times faster in E− (21 pg/h) compared with E+ embryos (7 pg/h, P<0.0001), while both α-tocopherol and DHA concentrations decreased only in E− embryos. At 36 hpf, E− embryos contained double the 5-hydroxy-eicosatetraenoic acids and 7-hydroxy-DHA concentrations, while other hydroxy-lipids remained unchanged. Vitamin E deficiency during embryogenesis depleted DHA and arachidonic acid, and increased hydroxy-fatty acids derived from these PUFA, suggesting that α-tocopherol is necessary to protect these critical fatty acids.

•

α-Tocopherol and fatty acids were measured using a novel extraction and LCMS methodology.

•

Oxidation products of arachidonic or docosahexaenoic acids were analyzed in embryo extracts using UPLC with hybrid quadrupole-time of flight MS.

•

Embryogenesis depletes arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acids, but these disappear faster, when α-tocopherol is insufficient to prevent lipid peroxidation.

Quantitative metabolic profiling of lipid mediators

Lipids are heterogeneous biological molecules that possess multiple physiological roles including cell structure, homeostasis, and restoration of tissue functionality during and after inflammation. Lipid metabolism constitutes a network of pathways that are related at multiple biosynthetic hubs. Disregulation of lipid metabolism can lead to pathophysiological effects and multiple lipid mediators have been described to be involved in physiological processes, (e.g. inflammation). Accordingly, a thorough description of these pathways may shed light on putative relations in multiple complex diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, obesity, and cancer. Due to the structural complexity of lipids and the low abundance of many lipid mediators, mass spectrometry is the most commonly employed method for analysis. However, multiple challenges remain in the efforts to analyze every lipid subfamily. In this review, the biological role of sphingolipids, glycerolipids, oxylipins (e.g. eicosanoids), endocannabinoids, and N-acylethanolamines in relation to health and disease and the state-of-the-art analyses are summarized. The characterization and understanding of these pathways will increase our ability to examine for interrelations among lipid pathways and improve the knowledge of biological mechanisms in health and disease.

Lipidomic profiling of model organisms and the world's major pathogens

Lipidomics is a subspecialty of metabolomics that focuses on water insoluble metabolites that form membrane barriers. Most lipidomic databases catalog lipids from common model organisms, like humans or Escherichia coli. However, model organisms' lipid profiles show surprisingly little overlap with those of specialized pathogens, creating the need for organism-specific lipidomic databases. Here we review rapid progress in lipidomic platform development with regard to chromatography, detection and bioinformatics. We emphasize new methods of comparative lipidomics, which use aligned datasets to identify lipids changed after introducing a biological variable. These new methods provide an unprecedented ability to broadly and quantitatively describe lipidic change during biological processes and identify changed lipids with low error rates.

Plasma lipid metabolites are associated with gestational age but not bronchopulmonary dysplasia

AIM

To test the hypothesis that plasma lipid metabolite levels in premature infants are associated with the development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). The studies also tested a secondary hypothesis that plasma lipid metabolite levels were correlated with gestational age.

METHODS

Infants born <32 weeks' gestation were enrolled during the first 72 h of life. Plasma samples were obtained and lipid levels were measured by LC-MS/MS. Clinical data were collected to determine infant outcomes and BPD diagnosis.

RESULTS

Following adjustment for confounders, lipid levels were not associated with BPD; however, levels of specific lipid metabolites were correlated with gestational age.

CONCLUSION

Immature lipid metabolism pathways in premature infants may contribute to the pathogenesis of BPD and other diseases.

Cloning and expression of three lipoxygenase genes from liverwort, Marchantia polymorpha L., in Escherichia coli

Three genes homologous to plant lipoxygenase genes were identified from the EST libraries of Marchantia polymorpha, in order to clarify the function of LOXs in bryophytes. Full-length genes were isolated using 5'- and 3'-RACE methods and named MpLOX1, MpLOX2, and MpLOX3, respectively. To investigate the enzymatic activities of liverwort LOXs, recombinant MpLOX1, MpLOX2, and MpLOX3 proteins were prepared from Escherichia coli cells expressing the corresponding gene. LC-MS/MS analyses and chiral column chromatography of their reaction products showed that MpLOX1 codes for 11S/15S-lipoxygenase against eicosapentaenoic acid and for 15S-lipoxygenase against arachidonic acid, and that MpLOX2 and MpLOX3 code for 15S-lipoxygenase against eicosapentaenoic and arachidonic acids. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the liverwort lipoxygenase genes separated from the ancestor of higher plants in the early stages of plant evolution. Quantification analyses suggested that arachidonic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid were preferred substrates. Furthermore, each liverwort lipoxygenase exhibited highest activity at pH 7.0 and dependency on Ca(2+) ion in the oxygenation reaction.

Mass spectrometry based lipidomics: an overview of technological platforms

One decade after the genomic and the proteomic life science revolution, new ‘omics’ fields are emerging. The metabolome encompasses the entity of small molecules—Most often end products of a catalytic process regulated by genes and proteins—with the lipidome being its fat soluble subdivision. Within recent years, lipids are more and more regarded not only as energy storage compounds but also as interactive players in various cellular regulation cycles and thus attain rising interest in the bio-medical community. The field of lipidomics is, on one hand, fuelled by analytical technology advances, particularly mass spectrometry and chromatography, but on the other hand new biological questions also drive analytical technology developments. Compared to fairly standardized genomic or proteomic high-throughput protocols, the high degree of molecular heterogeneity adds a special analytical challenge to lipidomic analysis. In this review, we will take a closer look at various mass spectrometric platforms for lipidomic analysis. We will focus on the advantages and limitations of various experimental setups like ‘shotgun lipidomics’, liquid chromatography—Mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and matrix assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) based approaches. We will also examine available software packages for data analysis, which nowadays is in fact the rate limiting step for most ‘omics’ workflows.

Lipidomics at the interface of structure and function in systems biology

Cells, tissues, and biological fluids contain a diverse repertoire of many tens of thousands of structurally distinct lipids that play multiple roles in cellular signaling, bioenergetics, and membrane structure and function. In an era where lipid-related disease states predominate, lipidomics has assumed a prominent role in systems biology through its unique ability to directly identify functional alterations in multiple lipid metabolic and signaling networks. The development of shotgun lipidomics has led to the facile accrual of high density information on alterations in the lipidome mediating physiologic cellular adaptation during health and pathologic alterations during disease. Through both targeted and nontargeted investigations, lipidomics has already revealed the chemical mechanisms underlying many lipid-related disease states.

Analysis of bioactive eicosanoids in equine plasma by stable isotope dilution reversed-phase liquid chromatography/multiple reaction monitoring mass spectrometry

Oxidative metabolites of arachidonic acid (AA) are implicated in inflammation. Thus, we evaluated cycloxygenases (COXs) and lipoxygenases (LOs) mediated metabolism of AA to eicosanoids in equine plasma. Eicosanoids were extracted from plasma by two liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) steps; first was by chloroform/isopropanol and second by methyl-tert-butyl ether. For identification and quantification of 25 eicosanoids, a highly specific, selective and sensitive stable isotope dilution liquid chromatography (LC) multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mass spectrometric (MS) method was developed. To avoid artifact formation of eicosanoids, deferoxamine was added to plasma to chelate residual transition metal ions. The calibration curve showed excellent linearity within 0.1 to 10 ng/mL. Slopes of the calibration curves generated by adding known quantities of eicosanoids in plasma were higher than those prepared in methanol/mobile phase A. Addition of deferoxamine decreased the slope of calibration curves generated using plasma. Limit of detection (LOD) was 1-10 pg on-column for 25 different eicosanoids. Inter-day accuracy was 86-111%, whereas intra-day accuracy was from 88-110%, and precision did not exceed 15% for all quality control (QC) samples. To evaluate the formation of eicosanoids, AA was exogenously added or endogenous AA was released from esterified lipids by calcium ionophore (CI) A23187 treatment of equine whole blood. Pre-treatment of equine whole blood with dexamethasone (DEX) significantly inhibited AA or CI A23187- mediated formation of eicosanoids. The validated method is now employed in studies undertaken to better understand the mechanism of action and pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics of eicosanoids after administration of glucocorticoids to horses. This method is reliably reproducible.

Comprehensive lipidomics analysis of bioactive lipids in complex regulatory networks

In the present work we describe the development of an analytical technique for simultaneous profiling of over 100 biochemically related lipid mediators in biological samples. A multistep procedure was implemented to extract eicosanoids and other bioactive lipids from the biological matrix, chromatographically separate them using fast reversed-phase liquid chromatography, tentatively identify new candidate eicosanoids through a matching process of retention times, isotope distribution patterns, and high-resolution orbitrap MS/MS fragmentation patterns, and subsequently quantify tentative candidates by means of analytical reference standards. Key new aspects of this profiling technique included the classification of bioactive lipids into 12 groups according to their calculated exact masses and the development of optimized liquid chromatographic conditions for these groups to achieve sufficient separation of the numerous isobaric and isomeric species, many of which exhibited virtually identical collision-induced dissociation behavior. Importantly, no analytical standards were required at this screening stage of the assay, and tentative identifications were achieved by matching results to selected reference species from each of the groups. The analytical figures of merit for the orbitrap assay such as linear dynamic range, limit of detection, limit of quantitation, and precision demonstrated that the performance of the assay was very similar to that of a quadrupole linear ion trap assay, which was used for validation purposes. The method allowed us to examine eicosanoid profiles within the signaling cascade in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells under basal conditions and following arachidonic acid stimulation. The preliminary screening based on high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry data along with isotope pattern and retention time matching revealed the presence of 15 bioactive lipids, belonging to a range of prostaglandin, leukotriene, and hydroxy and epoxy fatty acid lipid mediators produced by CLL cells.

Analysis of epoxyeicosatrienoic acids by chiral liquid chromatography/electron capture atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry using [13C]-analog internal standards

The metabolism of arachidonic acid (AA) to epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) is thought to be mediated primarily by the cytochromes P450 (P450s) from the 2 family (2C9, 2C19, 2D6, and 2J2). In contrast, P450s of the 4 family are primarily involved in omega oxidation of AA (4A11 and 4A22). The ability to determine enantioselective formation of the regioisomeric EETs is important in order to establish their potential biological activities and to asses which P450 isoforms are involved in their formation. It has been extremely difficult to analyze individual EET enantiomers in biological fluids because they are present in only trace amounts and they are extremely difficult to separate from each other. In addition, the deuterium-labeled internal standards that are commonly used for stable isotope dilution liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) analyses have different LC retention times when compared with the corresponding protium forms. Therefore, quantification by LC/MS-based methodology can be compromised by differential suppression of ionization of the closely eluting isomers. We report the preparation of [(13)C(20)]-EET analog internal standards and the use of a validated high-sensitivity chiral LC/electron capture atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (ECAPCI)-MS method for the trace analysis of endogenous EETs as their pentafluorobenzyl (PFB) ester derivatives. The assay was then used to show the exquisite enantioselectivity of P4502C19-, P4502D6-, P4501A1-, and P4501B1-mediated conversion of AA into EETs and to quantify the enantioselective formation of EETs produced by AA metabolism in a mouse epithelial hepatoma (Hepa) cell line.

Targeted eicosanoids lipidomics of exhaled breath condensate in healthy subjects

BACKGROUND

Exhaled breath condensate collection is a non-invasive method of sampling the respiratory tract that can be repeated several times in a wide range of clinical settings. Quantitation of non-volatile compounds in the condensate requires highly sensitive analytical methods, e.g. mass spectrometry.

OBJECTIVE

To validate cross-platform measurements of eicosanoids using high performance liquid chromatography or gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry in exhaled breath condensate sampled from 58 healthy individuals.

METHODS

Twenty different eicosanoid compounds, representing major arachidonic acid lipoxygenation and cyclooxygenation pathways were measured using a stable isotope dilution method. We applied a free palmitic acid concentration as a surrogate marker for the condensate dilution factor.

RESULTS

Eicosanoids concentrations in the condensates were consistent with their content in other biological fluids. Prostaglandin E(2) was the most abundant mediator, represented by its stable metabolite tetranor-PGEM. Prostaglandin D(2) products were at low concentration, while hydroxyacids derived from lipoxygenation were abundant. 5-HETE was elevated in current tobacco smokers. Leukotriene B(4) has the highest concentration of all 5-LO products. 15-LO analogues of cysteinyl leukotrienes-eoxins were detectable and metabolized to eoxin E(4). Two main vascular prostanoids: prostacyclin and thromboxane B(2) were present as metabolites. A marker for non-enzymatic lipid peroxidation, 8-iso-PGF(2alpha) isoprostane was increased in smokers.

CONCLUSION

Presented targeted lipidomics analysis of exhaled breath condensate in healthy subjects justifies its application to investigation of inflammatory lung diseases. Measurements of non-volatile mediators of inflammation in the condensates might characterize disease-specific pathological mechanisms and responses to treatment.

Stable-isotope dilution LC–MS for quantitative biomarker analysis

The ability to conduct validated analyses of biomarkers is critically important in order to establish the sensitivity and selectivity of the biomarker in identifying a particular disease. The use of stable-isotope dilution (SID) methodology in combination with LC–MS/MS provides the highest possible analytical specificity for quantitative determinations. This methodology is now widely used in the discovery and validation of putative exposure and disease biomarkers. This review will describe the application of SID LC–MS methodology for the analysis of small-molecule and protein biomarkers. It will also discuss potential future directions for the use of this methodology for rigorous biomarker analysis.