Reconstruction of Glutathione Metabolism in the Neuronal Model of Rotenone-Induced Neurodegeneration Using Mass Isotopologue Analysis with Hydrophilic Interaction Liquid Chromatography-Zeno High-Resolution Multiple Reaction Monitoring.

Accurate reconstruction of metabolic pathways is an important prerequisite for interpreting metabolomics changes and understanding the diverse biological processes in disease models. A tracer-based metabolomics strategy utilizes stable isotope-labeled precursors to resolve complex pathways by tracing the labeled atom(s) to downstream metabolites through enzymatic reactions. Isotope enrichment analysis is informative and achieved by counting total labeled atoms and acquiring the mass isotopologue distribution (MID) of the intact metabolite. However, quantitative analysis of labeled metabolite substructures/moieties (MS2 fragments) can offer more valuable insights into the reaction connections through measuring metabolite transformation. In order to acquire the isotopic labeling information at the intact metabolite and moiety level simultaneously, we developed a method that couples hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) with Zeno trap-enabled high-resolution multiple reaction monitoring (MRMHR). The method enabled accurate and reproducible MID quantification for intact metabolites as well as their fragmented moieties, with notably high sensitivity in the MS2 fragmentation mode based on the measurement of 13C- or 15N-labeled cellular samples. The method was applied to human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neurons to trace the fate of 13C/15N atoms from D-13C6-glucose/L-15N2-glutamine added to the media. With the MID analysis of both intact metabolites and fragmented moieties, we validated the pathway reconstruction of de novo glutathione synthesis in mid-brain neurons. We discovered increased glutathione oxidization from both basal and newly synthesized glutathione pools under neuronal oxidative stress. Furthermore, the significantly decreased de novo glutathione synthesis was investigated and associated with altered activities of several key enzymes, as evidenced by suppressed glutamate supply via glucose metabolism and a diminished flux of glutathione synthetic reaction in the neuronal model of rotenone-induced neurodegeneration.

Skin-specific regulation of SREBP processing and lipid biosynthesis by glycerol kinase 5.

The recessive N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea-induced phenotype toku is characterized by delayed hair growth, progressive hair loss, and excessive accumulation of dermal cholesterol, triglycerides, and ceramides. The toku phenotype was attributed to a null allele of Gk5, encoding glycerol kinase 5 (GK5), a skin-specific kinase expressed predominantly in sebaceous glands. GK5 formed a complex with the sterol regulatory element-binding proteins (SREBPs) through their C-terminal regulatory domains, inhibiting SREBP processing and activation. In Gk5toku/toku mice, transcriptionally active SREBPs accumulated in the skin, but not in the liver; they were localized to the nucleus and led to elevated lipid synthesis and subsequent hair growth defects. Similar defective hair growth was observed in kinase-inactive GK5 mutant mice. Hair growth defects of homozygous toku mice were partially rescued by treatment with the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor simvastatin. GK5 exists as part of a skin-specific regulatory mechanism for cholesterol biosynthesis, independent of cholesterol regulation elsewhere in the body.

Relation of plasma ceramides to visceral adiposity, insulin resistance and the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus: the Dallas Heart Study.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Ceramides are sphingolipids that contribute to insulin resistance in preclinical studies. We hypothesised that plasma ceramides would be associated with body fat distribution, insulin resistance and incident type 2 diabetes in a multi-ethnic cohort. METHODS: A total of 1557 participants in the Dallas Heart Study without type 2 diabetes underwent measurements of metabolic biomarkers, fat depots by MRI and plasma ceramides by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Diabetes outcomes were assessed after 7 years. Associations of body fat and insulin resistance with ceramides at baseline and of ceramides with incident diabetes outcomes were analysed. RESULTS: The cohort had a mean age of 43 years, with 58% women, 45% black participants and a mean BMI of 28 kg/m2. Total cholesterol levels were associated with all ceramides, but higher triacylglycerols and lower HDL-cholesterol and adiponectin were associated only with saturated fatty acid chain ceramides (p < 0.0003). After adjusting for clinical characteristics and total body fat, visceral adipose tissue was positively associated with saturated fatty acid ceramides (per SD, ß = 0.16 to 0.18) and inversely associated with polyunsaturated fatty acid ceramides (ß = -0.14 to -0.16, p < 0.001 for all). Lower-body subcutaneous fat showed an opposite pattern to that for visceral fat. HOMA-IR was positively associated with saturated (ß = 0.08 to 0.09, p < 0.001) and inversely with polyunsaturated ceramides (ß = -0.06 to -0.07, p < 0.05). Ceramides were not associated with incident type 2 diabetes after adjustment for clinical factors. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: Plasma ceramides demonstrate a biologically complex relationship with metabolic and imaging indicators of dysfunctional adiposity. The role of ceramides in a shared pathway of metabolic dysfunction linking visceral adiposity and insulin resistance requires further investigation.

Cyp8b1 ablation prevents Western diet-induced weight gain and hepatic steatosis because of impaired fat absorption.

Bile acids (BAs) are cholesterol derivatives that regulate lipid metabolism, through their dual abilities to promote lipid absorption and activate BA receptors. However, different BA species have varying abilities to perform these functions. Eliminating 12α-hydroxy BAs in mice via Cyp8b1 knockout causes low body weight and improved glucose tolerance. The goal of this study was to determine mechanisms of low body weight in Cyp8b1-/- mice. We challenged Cyp8b1-/- mice with a Western-type diet and assessed body weight and composition. We measured energy expenditure, fecal calories, and lipid absorption and performed lipidomic studies on feces and intestine. We investigated the requirement for dietary fat in the phenotype using a fat-free diet. Cyp8b1-/- mice were resistant to Western diet-induced body weight gain, hepatic steatosis, and insulin resistance. These changes were associated with increased fecal calories, due to malabsorption of hydrolyzed dietary triglycerides. This was reversed by treating the mice with taurocholic acid, the major 12α-hydroxylated BA species. The improvements in body weight and steatosis were normalized by feeding mice a fat-free diet. The effects of BA composition on intestinal lipid handling are important for whole body energy homeostasis. Thus modulating BA composition is a potential tool for obesity or diabetes therapy.

The MBOAT7-TMC4 Variant rs641738 Increases Risk of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Individuals of European Descent.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a leading cause of liver damage and is characterized by steatosis. Genetic factors increase risk for progressive NAFLD. A genome-wide association study showed that the rs641738 C>T variant in the locus that contains the membrane bound O-acyltransferase domain-containing 7 gene (MBOAT7, also called LPIAT1) and transmembrane channel-like 4 gene (TMC4) increased the risk for cirrhosis in alcohol abusers. We investigated whether the MBOAT7-TMC4 is a susceptibility locus for the development and progression of NAFLD. METHODS: We genotyped rs641738 in DNA collected from 3854 participants from the Dallas Heart Study (a multi-ethnic population-based probability sample of Dallas County residents) and 1149 European individuals from the Liver Biopsy Cross-Sectional Cohort. Clinical and anthropometric data were collected, and biochemical and lipidomics were measured in plasma samples from participants. A total of 2736 participants from the Dallas Heart Study also underwent proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy to measure hepatic triglyceride content. In the Liver Biopsy Cross-Sectional Cohort, a total of 1149 individuals underwent liver biopsy to diagnose liver disease and disease severity. RESULTS: The genotype rs641738 at the MBOAT7-TMC4 locus associated with increased hepatic fat content in the 2 cohorts, and with more severe liver damage and increased risk of fibrosis compared with subjects without the variant. MBOAT7, but not TMC4, was found to be highly expressed in the liver. The MBOAT7 rs641738 T allele was associated with lower protein expression in the liver and changes in plasma phosphatidylinositol species consistent with decreased MBOAT7 function. CONCLUSIONS: We provide evidence for an association between the MBOAT7 rs641738 variant and the development and severity of NAFLD in individuals of European descent. This association seems to be mediated by changes in the hepatic phosphatidylinositol acyl-chain remodeling.

Evaluation of CETP activity in vivo under non-steady-state conditions: influence of anacetrapib on HDL-TG flux.

Studies in lipoprotein kinetics almost exclusively rely on steady-state approaches to modeling. Herein, we have used a non-steady-state experimental design to examine the role of cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) in mediating HDL-TG flux in vivo in rhesus macaques, and therefore, we developed an alternative strategy to model the data. Two isotopomers ([(2)H11] and [(13)C18]) of oleic acid were administered (orally and intravenously, respectively) to serve as precursors for labeling TGs in apoB-containing lipoproteins. The flux of a specific TG (52:2) from these donor lipoproteins to HDL was used as the measure of CETP activity; calculations are also presented to estimate total HDL-TG flux. Based on our data, we estimate that the peak total postprandial TG flux to HDL via CETP is ∼ 13 mg · h(-1) · kg(-1) and show that this transfer was inhibited by 97% following anacetrapib treatment. Collectively, these data demonstrate that HDL TG flux can be used as a measure of CETP activity in vivo. The fact that the donor lipoproteins can be labeled in situ using well-established stable isotope tracer techniques suggests ways to measure this activity for native lipoproteins in free-living subjects under any physiological conditions.

Multiplexed Quantification of Proglucagon-Derived Peptides by Immunoaffinity Enrichment and Tandem Mass Spectrometry after a Meal Tolerance Test.

BACKGROUND: Proglucagon-derived peptides (PGDPs), which include glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1, glucagon, and oxyntomodulin, are key regulators of glucose homeostasis and satiety. These peptide hormones are typically measured with immuno-based assays (e.g., ELISA, RIA), which often suffer from issues of selectivity. METHODS: We developed a multiplexed assay for measuring PGDPs including GLP-1 (7-36) amide, GLP-1 (9-36) amide, glucagon, and oxyntomodulin by mass spectrometry and used this assay to examine the effect of a meal tolerance test on circulating concentrations of these hormones. Participants fasted overnight and were either given a meal (n = 8) or continued to fast (n = 4), with multiple blood collections over the course of 3 h. Plasma samples were analyzed by microflow immunoaffinity (IA)-LC-MS/MS with an isotope dilution strategy. RESULTS: Assay performance characteristics were examined and established during analytical validation for all peptides. Intra- and interassay imprecision were found to be 2.2%-10.7% and 6.8%-22.5%, respectively. Spike recovery was >76%, and dilution linearity was established up to a 16-fold dilution. Immediately after the meal tolerance test, GLP-1 and oxyntomodulin concentrations increased and had an almost identical temporal relationship, and glucagon concentrations increased with a slight delay. CONCLUSIONS: IA-LC-MS/MS was used for the simultaneous and selective measurement of PGDPs. This work includes the first indication of the physiological concentrations and modulation of oxyntomodulin after a meal.

Quantitative profiling of oxylipins in plasma and atherosclerotic plaques of hypercholesterolemic rabbits.

Oxylipins are oxidation products of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) that affect a broad range of physiological processes, including cell proliferation, inflammation, inflammation resolution, and vascular function. Moreover, oxylipins are readily detectable in plasma, and certain subsets of oxylipins have been detected in human atherosclerotic lesions. Taken together, we set out to produce a detailed quantitative assessment of plasma and plaque oxylipins in a widely used model of atherosclerosis, to identify potential biomarkers of disease progression. We administered regular chow or regular chow supplemented with 0.5% cholesterol (HC) to male New Zealand white rabbits for 12 weeks to induce hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis. Our targeted lipidomic analyses of oxylipins on plaques isolated from rabbits fed the HC diet detected 34 oxylipins, 28 of which were in compliance with our previously established quality control acceptance criteria. The arachidonic acid (AA) metabolite derived from the COX pathway, 6-keto-PGF1α was the most abundant plaque oxylipin, followed by the linoleic acid (LA) metabolites 9-HODE, 13-HODE and 9,12,13-TriHOME and the arachidonic acid (AA)-derivatives 11-HETE and 12-HETE. We additionally found that the most abundant oxylipins in plasma were three of the five most abundant oxylipins in plaque, namely 11-HETE, 13-HODE, and 9-HODE. The studies reported here make the first step towards a comprehensive characterization of oxylipins as potentially translatable biomarkers of atherosclerosis.

Glucagon receptor antagonism induces increased cholesterol absorption.

Glucagon and insulin have opposing action in governing glucose homeostasis. In type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), plasma glucagon is characteristically elevated, contributing to increased gluconeogenesis and hyperglycemia. Therefore, glucagon receptor (GCGR) antagonism has been proposed as a pharmacologic approach to treat T2DM. In support of this concept, a potent small-molecule GCGR antagonist (GRA), MK-0893, demonstrated dose-dependent efficacy to reduce hyperglycemia, with an HbA1c reduction of 1.5% at the 80 mg dose for 12 weeks in T2DM. However, GRA treatment was associated with dose-dependent elevation of plasma LDL-cholesterol (LDL-c). The current studies investigated the cause for increased LDL-c. We report findings that link MK-0893 with increased glucagon-like peptide 2 and cholesterol absorption. There was not, however, a GRA-related modulation of cholesterol synthesis. These findings were replicated using structurally diverse GRAs. To examine potential pharmacologic mitigation, coadministration of ezetimibe (a potent inhibitor of cholesterol absorption) in mice abrogated the GRA-associated increase of LDL-c. Although the molecular mechanism is unknown, our results provide a novel finding by which glucagon and, hence, GCGR antagonism govern cholesterol metabolism.

New methodologies for studying lipid synthesis and turnover: looking backwards to enable moving forwards.

Our ability to understand the pathogenesis of problems surrounding lipid accretion requires attention towards quantifying lipid kinetics. In addition, studies of metabolic flux should also help unravel mechanisms that lead to imbalances in inter-organ lipid trafficking which contribute to dyslipidemia and/or peripheral lipid accumulation (e.g. hepatic fat deposits). This review aims to outline the development and use of novel methods for studying lipid kinetics in vivo. Although our focus is directed towards some of the approaches that are currently reported in the literature, we include a discussion of the older literature in order to put "new" methods in better perspective and inform readers of valuable historical research. Presumably, future advances in understanding lipid dynamics will benefit from a careful consideration of the past efforts, where possible we have tried to identify seminal papers or those that provide clear data to emphasize essential points. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Modulation of Adipose Tissue in Health and Disease.

Evaluation of cynomolgus monkeys for the identification of endogenous biomarkers for hepatic transporter inhibition and as a translatable model to predict pharmacokinetic interactions with statins in humans.

Inhibition of hepatic transporters such as organic anion transporting polypeptides (OATPs) 1B can cause drug-drug interactions (DDIs). Determining the impact of perpetrator drugs on the plasma exposure of endogenous substrates for OATP1B could be valuable to assess the risk for DDIs early in drug development. As OATP1B orthologs are well conserved between human and monkey, we assessed in cynomolgus monkeys the endogenous OATP1B substrates that are potentially suitable to assess DDI risk in humans. The effect of rifampin (RIF), a potent inhibitor for OATP1B, on plasma exposure of endogenous substrates of hepatic transporters was measured. From the 18 biomarkers tested, RIF (18 mg/kg, oral) caused significant elevation of plasma unconjugated and conjugated bilirubin, which may be attributed to inhibition of cOATP1B1 and cOATP1B3 based on in vitro to in vivo extrapolation analysis. To further evaluate whether cynomolgus monkeys are a suitable translational model to study OATP1B-mediated DDIs, we determined the inhibitory effect of RIF on in vitro transport and pharmacokinetics of rosuvastatin (RSV) and atorvastatin (ATV). RIF strongly inhibited the uptake of RSV and ATV by cOATP1B1 and cOATP1B3 in vitro. In agreement with clinical observations, RIF (18 mg/kg, oral) significantly decreased plasma clearance and increased the area under the plasma concentration curve (AUC) of intravenously administered RSV by 2.8- and 2.7-fold, and increased the AUC and maximum plasma concentration of orally administered RSV by 6- and 10.3-fold, respectively. In contrast to clinical findings, RIF did not significantly increase plasma exposure of either intravenous or orally administered ATV, indicating species differences in the rate-limiting elimination pathways.

Static and turnover kinetic measurement of protein biomarkers involved in triglyceride metabolism including apoB48 and apoA5 by LC/MS/MS.

LC/MS quantification of multiple plasma proteins that differ by several orders of magnitude in concentration from a single sample is challenging. We present a strategy that allows the simultaneous determination of the concentration and turnover kinetics of higher and lower abundant proteins from a single digestion mixture. Our attention was directed at a cluster of proteins that interact to affect the absorption and interorgan lipid trafficking. We demonstrate that apos involved in TG metabolism such as apoC2, C3, E, and A4 (micromolar concentration), and apoB48 and apoA5 (single-digit nanomolar concentration) can be quantified from a single digestion mixture. A high degree of correlation between LC/MS and immunobased measurements for apoC2, C3, E, and B48 was observed. Moreover, apoA5 fractional synthesis rate was measured in humans for the first time. Finally, the method can be directly applied to studies involving nonhuman primates because peptide sequences used in the method are conserved between humans and nonhuman primates.

In vivo isotopically labeled atherosclerotic aorta plaques in ApoE KO mice and molecular profiling by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometric imaging.

RATIONALE: The ability to quantify rates of formation, regression and/or remodeling of atherosclerotic plaque should facilitate a better understanding of the pathogenesis and management of cardiovascular disease. In the current study, we coupled a stable isotope labeled tracer protocol with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-MSI) to examine spatial and temporal lipid dynamics in atherosclerotic plaque. METHODS: To promote plaque formation in the aorta region, ApoE KO mice were fed a high cholesterol diet (0.15% cholesterol) and orally dosed with (2,2,3,4,4,6-d(6))-cholesterol over several weeks. Tissue sections of ~10 µm thickness were analyzed by MALDI-MSI using matrix deposition by either chemical sublimation or acoustic droplet ejection. RESULTS: MALDI-MSI yielded distinct spatial distribution information for a variety of lipid classes including specific lysophosphatidylcholines typically associated with atherosclerosis-related tissue damage such as phospholipase 2 (Lp-PLA(2)) that mediate chemotactic responses to inflammation (e.g. LPC 16:0, LPC 18:0 and LPC 18:1) as well as free cholesterol and cholesteryl esters that contribute to atheroma formation. MALDI mass spectra acquired from aorta tissue sections clearly distinguished non-esterified and esterified versions of (2,2,3,4,4,6-d(6))-cholesterol within aortic plaque regions and showed distinct spatial accumulation of the cholesterol tracer. CONCLUSIONS: The ability to couple stable isotope based protocols with MALDI-MSI enables a novel strategy to characterize the effects of therapeutic treatments on atherosclerotic plaque formation, regression and potential remodeling of the complex lipid components with high chemical specificity and spatiotemporal information.

Determination of low levels of 2H-labeling using high-resolution mass spectrometry: application in studies of lipid flux and beyond.

RATIONALE: The ability to measure low levels of (2)H-labeling is important in studies of metabolic flux, e.g. one can estimate lipid synthesis by administering (2)H2O and then measuring the incorporation of (2)H into fatty acids. Unfortunately, the analyses are complicated by the presence of more abundant naturally occurring stable isotopes, e.g. (13)C. Conventional approaches rely on coupling gas chromatographic separation of lipids with either quadrupole-mass spectrometry (q-MS) and/or pyrolysis-isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS). The former is limited by high background labeling (primarily from (13)C) whereas the latter is not suitable for routine high-throughput analyses. METHODS: We have contrasted the use of continuous flow-pyrolysis-IRMS against high-resolution mass spectrometry (i.e. Qq-FT-ICR MS) for measuring the (2)H-enrichment of fatty acids and peptides. RESULTS: In contrast to IRMS, which requires ~30 min per analysis, it is possible to measure the (2)H-enrichment of palmitate via direct infusion high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) in ~3 min per sample. In addition, Qq-FT-ICR MS enabled measurements of the (2)H-enrichment of peptides (which is not possible using IRMS). CONCLUSIONS: High-resolution mass spectrometry can be used to measure low levels of (2)H-labeling so we expect that this approach will enhance studies of metabolic flux that rely on (2)H-labeled tracers, e.g. (2)H2O. However, since the high-resolution analyses require greater amounts of a given analyte one potential limitation centers on the overall sensitivity. Presumably, future advances can overcome this barrier.

Lipidome of atherosclerotic plaques from hypercholesterolemic rabbits.

The cellular, macromolecular and neutral lipid composition of the atherosclerotic plaque has been extensively characterized. However, a comprehensive lipidomic analysis of the major lipid classes within atherosclerotic lesions has not been reported. The objective of this study was to produce a detailed framework of the lipids that comprise the atherosclerotic lesion of a widely used pre-clinical model of plaque progression. Male New Zealand White rabbits were administered regular chow supplemented with 0.5% cholesterol (HC) for 12 weeks to induce hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis. Our lipidomic analyses of plaques isolated from rabbits fed the HC diet, using ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) and high-resolution mass spectrometry, detected most of the major lipid classes including: Cholesteryl esters, triacylglycerols, phosphatidylcholines, sphingomyelins, diacylglycerols, fatty acids, phosphatidylserines, lysophosphatidylcholines, ceramides, phosphatidylglycerols, phosphatidylinositols and phosphatidylethanolamines. Given that cholesteryl esters, triacylglycerols and phosphatidylcholines comprise greater than 75% of total plasma lipids, we directed particular attention towards the qualitative and quantitative assessment of the fatty acid composition of these lipids. We additionally found that sphingomyelins were relatively abundant lipid class within lesions, and compared the abundance of sphingomyelins to their precursor phosphatidylcholines. The studies presented here are the first approach to a comprehensive characterization of the atherosclerotic plaque lipidome.

In vivo effects of anacetrapib on preß HDL: improvement in HDL remodeling without effects on cholesterol absorption.

Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) transfers cholesteryl ester and triglyceride between HDL and apoB-containing lipoproteins. Anacetrapib (ANA), a reversible inhibitor of CETP, raises HDL cholesterol and lowers LDL cholesterol in dyslipidemic patients. We previously demonstrated that ANA increases macrophage-to-feces reverse cholesterol transport and fecal cholesterol excretion in hamsters, and increased preß HDL-dependent cholesterol efflux via ABCA1 in vitro. However, the effects of ANA on in vivo preß HDL have not been characterized. In vitro, ANA inhibited the formation of preß, however in ANA-treated dyslipidemic hamsters, preß HDL levels (measured by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis) were increased, in contrast to in vitro findings. Because changes in plasma preß HDL have been proposed to potentially affect markers of cholesterol absorption with other CETP inhibitors, a dual stable isotope method was used to directly measure cholesterol absorption in hamsters. ANA treatment of hamsters (on either dyslipidemic or normal diet) had no effect on cholesterol absorption, while dalcetrapib-treated hamsters displayed an increase in cholesterol absorption. Taken together, these data support the notion that ANA promotes preß HDL functionality in vivo, with no effects on cholesterol absorption.

Tracking fatty acid kinetics in distinct lipoprotein fractions in vivo: a novel high-throughput approach for studying dyslipidemia in rodent models.

Isotopic tracers have been used to examine lipid trafficking for many years, and data from those studies have typically yielded novel insight regarding the pathophysiology of dyslipidemia. Previous experimental designs were suitable for studies in humans because relatively large volumes of plasma could be regularly sampled. We have expanded on the earlier logic by applying high-throughput analytical methods that require reduced sample volumes. Specifically, we have examined the possibility of coupling gel-based separations of lipoproteins (e.g., lipoprint) with LC-MS/MS analyses of complex lipid mixtures as a way to routinely measure the labeling profiles of distinct lipids in discrete lipoprotein subfractions. We demonstrate the ability to measure the incorporation of [U-(13)C]oleate into triglycerides (TG), PLs (PL), and cholesterol esters (CE) in VLDL, LDL, and HDL particles in mice. Although rodent models of dyslipidemia are inherently different from humans because of alterations in enzyme activities and underlying metabolism, rodent models can be used to screen novel compounds for efficacy in altering a given biochemical pathway and therein enable studies of target engagement in vivo. We expect that it is possible to translate our approach for application in other systems, including studies in humans.

Use of [13C18] oleic acid and mass isotopomer distribution analysis to study synthesis of plasma triglycerides in vivo: analytical and experimental considerations.

We have previously reported on a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry method to determine the disposition of [(13)C18]-oleic acid following intravenous and oral administration in vivo. This approach has enabled us to study a variety of aspects of lipid metabolism including a quantitative assessment of triglyceride synthesis. Here we present a more rigorous evaluation of the constraints imposed upon the analytical method in order to generate accurate data using this stable-isotope tracer approach along with more detail on relevant analytical figures of merit including limits of quantitation, precision, and accuracy. The use of mass isotopomer distribution analysis (MIDA) to quantify plasma triglyceride synthesis is specifically highlighted, and a re-evaluation of the underlying mathematics has enabled us to present a simplified series of equations. The derivation of this MIDA model and the significance of all underlying assumptions are explored in detail, and examples are given of how it can successfully be applied to detect differences in plasma triglyceride synthesis in lean and high-fat diet fed mouse models. More work is necessary to evaluate the applicability of this approach to triglyceride stores with slower rates of turnover such as in adipose or muscle tissue; however, the present report provides investigators with the tools necessary to conduct such studies.

Enhanced data-independent analysis of lipids using ion mobility-TOFMSE to unravel quantitative and qualitative information in human plasma.

RATIONALE: Lipids are involved in various biochemical and signaling pathways, cell structure and function, and the pathophysiology of many diseases. We took advantage of ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) in conjunction with ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) and high-resolution mass spectrometry to gain quantitative and deeper qualitative structural insight within a single experiment. METHODS: Human plasma lipid extracts were analyzed using an Acquity UPLC system coupled to a Synapt G2-HDMS mass spectrometer system. The ion mobility gas employed was helium for the helium cell (150 mL/min) and nitrogen (80 mL/min) for the T-wave drift tube. The wave height for the T-wave cell was ramped in a linear fashion between 5-40 V. The mass spectra were acquired in an electrospray positive ionization mode. RESULTS: We resolved chromatographically co-eluting lipids further by ion mobility tube drift time and then subjected them to low- and high-energy fragmentation without pre-selecting respective precursor species. The fragment ions produced in a high-energy mode were aligned with their precursor ions in a low-energy mode. By aligning intact molecular spectra and fragment spectra for these lipids at a given ion mobility drift time and chromatographic retention time, we were able to obtain much cleaner fragment ion spectra for structural elucidation. For quantitative analysis we obtained a dynamic linear range from 0.002 to 2 µg/mL with and without an additional dimension of IMS. CONCLUSIONS: The additional dimension of IMS allowed us to perform quantitative and qualitative analysis within a single experiment in a relatively high-throughput manner thus providing deeper structural insights into lipids of biological interest and resulting in an information-rich dataset.

Measurement of apo(a) kinetics in human subjects using a microfluidic device with tandem mass spectrometry.

RATIONALE: Apolipoprotein(a) [apo(a)] is the defining protein component of lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)], an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The regulation of Lp(a) levels in blood is poorly understood in part due to technical challenges in measuring Lp(a) kinetics. Improvements in the ability to readily and reliably measure the kinetics of apo(a) using a stable isotope labeled tracer is expected to facilitate studies of the role of Lp(a) in cardiovascular disease. Since investigators typically determine the isotopic labeling of protein-bound amino acids following acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of a protein of interest [e.g., apo(a)], studies of protein synthesis require extensive protein purification which limits throughput and often requires large sample volumes. We aimed to develop a rapid and efficient method for studying apo(a) kinetics that is suitable for use in studies involving human subjects. METHODS: Microfluidic device and tandem mass spectrometry were used to quantify the incorporation of [(2)H3]-leucine tracer into protein-derived peptides. RESULTS: We demonstrated that it is feasible to quantify the incorporation of [(2)H3]-leucine tracer into a proteolytic peptide from the non-kringle repeat region of apo(a) in human subjects. Specific attention was directed toward optimizing the multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) transitions, mass spectrometer settings, and chromatography (i.e., critical parameters that affect the sensitivity and reproducibility of isotopic enrichment measurements). The results demonstrated significant advantages with the use of a microfluidic device technology for studying apo(a) kinetics, including enhanced sensitivity relative to conventional micro-flow chromatography, a virtually drift-free elution profile, and a stable and robust electrospray. CONCLUSIONS: The technological advances described herein enabled the implementation of a novel method for studying the kinetics of apo(a) in human subjects infused with [(2)H3]-leucine.