Simultaneous ultra-high performance liquid chromathograpy-electrospray ionization-quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometry quantification of endogenous anandamide and related N-acylethanolamides in bio-matrices.

We describe and validate a sensitive UHPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS method for the simultaneous quantification of seven endocannabinoids and non-endocannabinoids related N-acylethanolamides: N-arachidonoylethanolamide, N-palmitoylethanolamide, N-stearoylethanolamide, N-oleoylethanolamide, N-linoleoylethanolamide, N-α-linolenoylethanolamide and N-eicosapentaenoylethanolamide in several bio-matrices for the purpose of research and clinical application. We examined effects of different liquid-liquid and solid phase extraction on the recovery of endocannabinoids and N-acylethanolamides. Protein precipitation with cooled acetone and extraction with acetonitrile (1% v/v formic acid) using OASIS HLB cartridge gave better results. Separation was performed on a Waters Acquity UPLC HSST3 column using a 9min elution gradient coupled with high resolution mass spectrometry (QTOF/MS). The high sensitivity of the developed method allow its application on sample with low volumes or low levels of endocannabinoids and N-acylethanolamides and make the method suitable for routine measurement in human bio-matrices, such as plasma, serum (500µL), urine (1mL) and tissues (10-30mg). Its application in clinical research could contribute to unravel pathophysiological roles of these family of lipid mediators and disclose novel diagnostic and prognostic markers.

Asymmetric dimethylarginine and lipid peroxidation products in early autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.

BACKGROUND: Patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) with normal renal function have endothelial dysfunction and decreased nitric oxide synthase activity in subcutaneous resistance vessels. We investigated asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) as a marker of an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase and the lipid peroxidation product 13-hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid (HODE) as a marker of oxidative stress in patients with early ADPKD. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS: Patients with early ADPKD (n = 27) and age-matched volunteers (n = 30) from a single academic medical center. FACTOR: Patients with ADPKD versus controls. OUTCOMES & MEASUREMENT: Plasma (P) levels, urinary (U) excretion, and urinary clearance (C) of ADMA and HODE. Because of multiple comparisons, P for significance is considered less than 0.0167. RESULTS: Patients with ADPKD had significantly increased P(ADMA) levels (604 +/- 131 versus 391 +/- 67 nmol/L; P < 0.01) and U(ADMA) excretion (22 +/- 4 versus 15.2 +/- 3 nmol/micromol creatinine; P = 0.01), decreased C(ADMA) (25 +/- 3 versus 33 +/- 4 mL/min; P = 0.01), increased P(HODE) levels (316 +/- 64 versus 230 +/- 38 nmol/L; P < 0.01) and U(HODE) excretion (467 +/- 67 versus 316 +/- 40 nmol/micromol creatinine; P < 0.01), and decreased plasma nitrite plus nitrate (P(NOx)) levels (21 +/- 5 versus 32 +/- 6 micromol/L; P < 0.01) and U(NOx) excretion (59 +/- 7 versus 138 +/- 27 micromol/micromol creatinine; P < 0.01). LIMITATIONS: Small sample size, cross-sectional nature of study, and limited number of markers of oxidative stress. CONCLUSIONS: P(ADMA) and P(HODE) levels are increased in patients with early ADPKD. Increased P(ADMA) level is related to decreased C(ADMA) and is accompanied by oxidative stress.

Increased production of 12/15 lipoxygenase eicosanoids accelerates monocyte/endothelial interactions in diabetic db/db mice.

Atherosclerosis is a major complication of diabetes. Up to 16 weeks of age, the db/db mouse is insulin-resistant and hyperglycemic and is a good model of Type 2 diabetes. After approximately 16 weeks of age, the mice develop pancreatic beta cell failure that can progress to a Type 1 diabetes phenotype. We have previously shown that glucose increases production of endothelial 12/15 lipoxygenase (12/15LO) products in vitro. In young 10-week-old Type 2 diabetic db/db mice, we found significant elevations in levels of urinary 12/15LO products, 12S-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (12S-HETE) and 13S-hydroxyoctadecaenoic acid (13S-HODE) in vivo compared with C57BLKS/J mice. Using isolated primary aortic endothelial cells (ECs) from db/db mice and WEHI78/24 mouse monocyte cells in static adhesion assays, we found increased WEHI monocyte adhesion to db/db ECs (14 +/- 2 monocytes/field for db/db ECs versus 4 +/- 1 monocytes/field for C57BLKS/J ECs, p < 0.002). Thus, ECs from db/db mice appear to be "pre-activated" to bind monocytes. Analysis of db/db ECs revealed a 2-fold elevation in 12/15LO protein compared with C57BLKS/J EC. To determine that 12/15LO products were responsible for the increased monocyte adhesion observed with db/db ECs, we inhibited expression of murine 12/15LO using either an adenovirus expressing a ribozyme to 12/15LO (AdRZ) or with the 12/15LO inhibitor cinnamyl-3,4-dihydroxy-alpha-cyanocinnamate. Treatment of db/db ECs for 48 h with AdRZ or 4 h with 10 microm cinnamyl-3,4-dihydroxy-alpha-cyanocinnamate significantly reduced monocyte adhesion to db/db endothelium (p < 0.009). Thus, inhibition of the murine 12/15LO in db/db mice significantly reduced monocyte/endothelial interactions. We also found that adhesion of monocytes to diabetic db/db ECs was mediated by interactions of alpha4beta1 integrin on monocytes with endothelial vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 and connecting segment 1 fibronectin and interactions of beta2 integrins with endothelial intercellular adhesion molecule 1. In summary, regulation of the 12/15LO pathway is important for mediating early vascular changes in diabetes. Modulation of the 12/15LO pathway in the vessel wall may provide therapeutic benefit for early vascular inflammatory events in diabetes.

Occurrence of 13(S)-hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid in biological samples.

The oxygenated metabolite of linoleic acid, 13(S)-hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid has recently been shown to play a role in cellular regulation. To detect this molecule in biological systems, we recently developed a specific polyclonal antibody. Using this antibody, we report the presence of 13(S)-hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid in human urine, cell culture media, and untreated goat serum for the first time by a specific, sensitive, and rapid enzyme immunoassay. Furthermore, the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay data are verified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis of the same samples.

Lack of promoting effects of alpha-linolenic, linoleic or palmitic acid on urinary bladder carcinogenesis in rats.

Potential promoting effects of alpha-linolenic, linoleic and palmitic acids were investigated in a two-stage urinary bladder carcinogenesis model. In experiment 1, male F344 rats were given 0.05% N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)nitrosamine (BBN) in their drinking water for 4 weeks and then basal diet containing 10% alpha-linolenic, 10% linoleic or 10% palmitic acid along with 0.2% butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) as an antioxidant for 24 weeks. The development of tumors in the urinary bladder was not increased by treatment with any of the fatty acids. In experiment 2, male F344 rats were given 10% alpha-linolenic, 10% linoleic or 10% palmitic acid along with 0.2% BHA in their diet for 8 weeks without prior BBN treatment. The administration of fatty acids was not associated with any increase in the 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine labeling index of the urinary bladder epithelium. Serum and/or urine fatty acid levels increased in the cases of alpha-linolenic and linoleic acid treatments, but not with palmitic acid. Under the present experimental conditions neither the two polyunsaturated nor the one saturated fatty acid exerted any promoting effect on urinary bladder carcinogenesis.

Distribution of 14C after oral administration of [1-14C]linoleic acid in rats fed different levels of essential fatty acids.

Rats from an inbred Sprague-Dawley strain were fed semisynthetic diets with a low [0.3 energy percent (en %)], normal (3 en %) or high (10 en %) content of essential fatty acids (EFA) for at least three generations. Twenty-nine- to 33-day-old male rats were given a single intragastric dose of [1-14C]linoleic acid in olive oil, and the respiratory CO2, urine and feces were collected for 46 hours (expt 1) or 20 hours (expt 2). The 14C activity in respiratory CO2, feces, urine and the carcass was determined in both experiments. In experiment 2 it was also measured in samples of the brown fat, liver, adrenals, white fat, skeletal muscles and brain. In both experiments the rats fed the low EFA diet retained significantly more 14C activity than the rats fed the normal or high EFA diets. In all groups the concentration of label was highest in the brown fat and the adrenals, but the above differences among the groups with respect to 14C retention were mainly observed in the liver, skeletal muscles and brain.

Metabolism of linoleamides. I. Absorption, excretion and metabolism of N-(alpha-methylbenzyl)linoleamide in rat and man.

1. In urine of rats dosed with N-(alpha-methylbenzyl)linoleamide (MBLA), three dicarboxylic acid monoamides, N-(alpha-methylbenzyl)succinic acid monoamide, N-(alpha-methylbenzyl)glutaric acid monoamide and N-(alpha-methylbenzyl)adipic acid monoamide, were identified. Conjugated alpha-methylbenzylamine, hippuric acid and conjugates of the dicarboxylic acid monoamides were also found in the urine. N-(alpha-Methylbenzyl)succinic acid monoamide was the main metabolite in rats. 2. Biliary excretion of radioactivity was studied in rats, cannulated for collection of bile and duodenal infusion, after oral administration of N-(alpha-methylbenzyl)[1-14C]linoleamide. With constant duodenal infusion of bile, about 7% of the dose was excreted in the bile, while excretion of radioactivity was negligible without bile infusion. 3. The g.l.c. analysis of human urine after oral administration of MBLA revealed that two dicarboxylic acid monoamides were present and N-(alpha-methylbenzyl)succinic acid monoamide was the main metabolite. 4. MBLA was excreted unchanged in the faeces of men who received MBLA to the extent of about 53% dose in 3 days. 5. MBLA was not detected (less than 1 mug/ml) in the serum of a volunteer who had been taking an oral daily dose of 1500 mg of MBLA for 3 months.

Qualitative and quantitative analysis of urinary lipids in the nephrotic syndrome.

A qualitative and quantitative analysis of urinary lipids in the nephrotic syndrome is presented. The following lipids were identified in the urine of patients with the nephrotic syndrome: free cholesterol, cholesterol esters, triglycerides, free fatty acids, and phospholipids. Glass paper chromatography identified the cholesterol esters as palmitate, oleate, linoleate, and arachidonate, and identified the phospholipids as phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, and phosphatidylserine. Urinary lipid excretion was much greater in patients with the nephrotic syndrome than in patients with chronic renal disease and minimal proteinuria, or in patients with hyperlipidemia from other causes. Urinary lipid excretion varied widely among the 13 patients with the nephrotic syndrome studied, and no quantitative correlation with serum lipid levels was observed. However, qualitatively at least, the proportion of cholesterol esters excreted in the urine was similar to the proportion of these esters in plasma. A good correlation was found between lipid excretion and glomerular permeability. Furthermore, during steroid therapy urinary lipid excretion decreased concomitant with a decrease in proteinuria. All these observations support the idea that lipiduria in the nephrotic syndrome is related to protein loss and that most of the lipid in the urine enters the glomerular filtrate in the form of lipoproteins.