Simultaneous determination of 5-hydroxytryptophan and 3-O-methyldopa in dried blood spot by UPLC-MS/MS: A useful tool for the diagnosis of L-amino acid decarboxylase deficiency.

5-hydroxytryptophan (5HTP) and 3-O-methyldopa (3OMD) are CSF diagnostic biomarkers of the defect of aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC), a rare inherited disorder of neurotransmitter synthesis which, if untreated, results in severely disabling neurological impairment. In the last few years, different methods to detect 3OMD in dried blood spot (DBS) were published. We developed and validated a fast and specific diagnostic tool to detect 5HTP alongside 3OMD. After extraction from DBS, 3OMD and 5HTP were separated by ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) and detected by tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). Instrument parameters were optimized to obtain the best sensitivity and specificity. Chromatographic separation was accomplished in 13 min. The limit of detection was 2.4 and 1.4 nmol/L of blood for 3OMD and 5HTP respectively, and response was linear over the blood range of 25-5000 nmol/L. Between-run imprecision was less than 9% for 3OMD and <13% for 5HTP. An age-specific continuous reference range was established, revealing a marked and continuous 3OMD decline with aging. The effect of age on 5HTP was less evident, showing only a slight decrease with age after the first week of life. A marked increase of both 3OMD and 5HTP was found in four patients affected by AADC deficiency (1780.6 ± 773.1 nmol/L, rv 71.0-144.9; and 94.8 ± 19.0 nmol/L, rv 15.2-42.8, respectively) while an isolated increase of 3OMD (6159.6 ± 3449.1 nmol/L, rv 73.2-192.2) was detected in three subjects affected by inherited disorders of dopamine synthesis under levodopa/carbidopa treatment (a marginal increase of 5HTP was detected in one of them). Simultaneous measurement of 5HTP and 3OMD in DBS leads to an improvement in specificity and sensitivity for the biochemical diagnosis of AADC deficiency.

Detection of 3-O-methyldopa in dried blood spots for neonatal diagnosis of aromatic L-amino-acid decarboxylase deficiency: The northeastern Italian experience.

OBJECTIVE: Aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) deficiency is a rare inherited autosomal recessive disorder of biogenic amine metabolism. Diagnosis requires analysis of neurotransmitter metabolites in cerebrospinal fluid, AADC enzyme activity analysis, or molecular analysis of the DDC gene. 3-O-methyldopa (3-OMD) is a key screening biomarker for AADC deficiency. METHODS: We describe a rapid method for 3-OMD determination in dried blood spots (DBS) using flow-injection analysis tandem mass spectrometry with NeoBase™ 2 reagents and 13C6-tyrosine as an internal standard, which are routinely used in high-throughput newborn screening. We assessed variability using quality control samples over a range of 3-OMD concentrations. RESULTS: Within-day and between-day precision determined with quality control samples demonstrated coefficients of variation <15%. 3-OMD concentrations in 1000 healthy newborns revealed a mean of 1.33 µmol/L (SD ± 0.56, range 0.61-3.05 µmol/L), 100 non-AADC control subjects (age 7 days - 1 year) showed a mean of 1.19 µmol/L (SD ± 0.35-2.00 µmol/L), and 81 patients receiving oral L-Dopa had a mean 3-OMD concentration of 14.90 µmol/L (SD ± 14.18, range 0.4-80.3 µmol/L). A patient with confirmed AADC was retrospectively analyzed and correctly identified (3-OMD 10.51 µmol/L). In April 2020, we started a pilot project for identifying AADC deficiency in DBSs routinely submitted to the expanded newborn screening program. 3-OMD concentrations were measured in 21,867 samples; no patients with AADC deficiency were identified. One newborn had a high 3-OMD concentration due to maternal L-Dopa treatment. DISCUSSION: We demonstrated a rapid new method to identify AADC deficiency using reagents and equipment already widely used in newborn screening programs. Although our study is limited, introduction of our method in expanded neonatal screening is feasible and could facilitate deployment of screening, allowing for early diagnosis that is important for effective treatment.

Amadori rearrangement products as potential biomarkers for inborn errors of amino-acid metabolism.

The identification of disease biomarkers plays a crucial role in developing diagnostic strategies for inborn errors of metabolism and understanding their pathophysiology. A primary metabolite that accumulates in the inborn error phenylketonuria is phenylalanine, however its levels do not always directly correlate with clinical outcomes. Here we combine infrared ion spectroscopy and NMR spectroscopy to identify the Phe-glucose Amadori rearrangement product as a biomarker for phenylketonuria. Additionally, we find analogous amino acid-glucose metabolites formed in the body fluids of patients accumulating methionine, lysine, proline and citrulline. Amadori rearrangement products are well-known intermediates in the formation of advanced glycation end-products and have been associated with the pathophysiology of diabetes mellitus and ageing, but are now shown to also form under conditions of aminoacidemia. They represent a general class of metabolites for inborn errors of amino acid metabolism that show potential as biomarkers and may provide further insight in disease pathophysiology.

Abnormalities in subsets of B and T cells in Mexican patients with inborn errors of propionate metabolism: observations from a single-center case series.

BACKGROUND: Propionate inborn errors of metabolism (PIEM), including propionic (PA) and methylmalonic (MMA) acidemias, are inherited metabolic diseases characterized by toxic accumulation of propionic, 3-hydroxypropionic, methylcitric, and methylmalonic organic acids in biological fluids, causing recurrent acute metabolic acidosis events and encephalopathy, which can lead to fatal outcomes if managed inadequately. PIEM patients can develop hematological abnormalities and immunodeficiency, either as part of the initial clinical presentation or as chronic complications. The origin and characteristics of these abnormalities have been studied poorly. Thus, the aim of the present work was to evaluate and describe lymphoid, myeloid, and erythroid cell population profiles in a group of clinically stable PIEM patients. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of 11 nonrelated Mexican PIEM patients. Clinical, biochemical, nutritional, hematological, and lymphocyte subsets were analyzed. RESULTS: Despite being considered clinically stable, 91% of patients had hematological or immunological abnormalities. The absolute lymphocyte subset counts were low in all patients but one, with CD4+ T-cell lymphopenia, being the most common one. Furthermore, of the 11 studied subjects, nine presented with a low CD4/CD8 ratio. Among the observed hematological alterations, bicytopenia was the most common (82%) one, followed by anemia (27%). CONCLUSION: Our results contribute to the landscape of immunological abnormalities observed previously in PIEM patients; these abnormalities can become a life-threatening chronic complications because of the increased risk of opportunistic diseases. These findings allow us to propose the inclusion of monitoring immune biomarkers, such as subsets of lymphocytes in the follow up of PIEM patients.

Hypertryptasemia and Mast Cell-Related Disorders in Severe Osteoporotic Patients.

PURPOSE: Systemic mastocytosis (SM) is characterized by a clonal proliferation of neoplastic mast cells (MCs) in one or more extracutaneous organs including the bone marrow (BM). SM is often associated with osteoporosis (OP) and fractures. Hypertryptasemia usually occurs in SM. We investigated the prevalence of hypertryptasemia in a series of severe osteoporotic patients, the performance of the tryptase test in diagnosing SM in these patients, and their bone features. METHODS: The medical records of 232 patients (168 females and 64 males) with a diagnosis of OP (50.4% with fractures) and a serum tryptase assessment were reviewed. BM assessment was performed in a subset of hypertryptasemic patients; clinical, biochemical, and radiographic data were collected. RESULTS: Hypertryptasemia was detected in 33 patients. BM assessment (n = 16) was normal in 8 hypertryptasemic patients, while BM criteria for the diagnosis of SM were met in 3 patients, MC alterations were detected in 4 patients, and one patient presented a polycythemia vera. Serum tryptase levels were higher than 11.4 ng/ml in all patients with BM alterations. The best cut-off of tryptase level related to BM alterations was 17.9 ng/ml, with a sensibility and sensitivity of 75% (AUC = 0.797 and P = 0.015 by ROC analysis). All osteoporotic patients with hypertryptasemia experienced at least one vertebral fracture associated with a severe reduction of the lumbar bone mineral density. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of MC-related disorders in severe OP was 3.0%, accounting for the 7.4% of the secondary causes of OP. MC-related disorders may be involved in bone fragility and assessment of serum tryptase is useful to detect MC-related disorders.

Nutritional Management and Biochemical Outcomes during the Immediate Phase after Liver Transplant for Methylmalonic Acidemia.

Methylmalonic acidemia (MMA) is caused by a deficiency of methyl-malonyl-CoA mutase. It is a multisystemic condition with poor clinical outcomes characterized by frequent metabolic decompensation with acidosis, hyperammonemia and encephalopathy. Restriction of intact protein and supplementation with amino acid-based formula play an important role in its management. Recently, liver transplant (LT) became a treatment option for MMA patients. However, there has been no current consensus on the post-operative nutrition management for MMA patients undergoing transplant, particularly during the initial phase of recovery period with catabolic stressors. We performed a retrospective analysis of clinical and nutritional management as well as biochemical profiles before and after LT in five patients with MMA. Through this study, we observed significant improvement of MMA-associated metabolites after LT. MMA patients were able to tolerate increased intact protein intake post-operatively. At least 1-1.5 g/kg/day of total protein during the acute phase after transplant may be tolerated without worsening of the metabolite levels. This information provides a guide in how to nutritionally manage MMA after LT.

Novel biomarkers and age-related metabolite correlations in plasma and dried blood spots from patients with succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase deficiency.

BACKGROUND: Previous work has identified age-related negative correlations for γ-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in plasma of patients with succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase deficiency (SSADHD). Using plasma and dried blood spots (DBS) collected in an ongoing natural history study, we tested the hypothesis that other biomarkers would follow a similar age-related negative correlation as seen for GHB/GABA. Samples (mixed sex) included: patients (n = 21 unique samples, 1-39.5 yrs) and parallel controls (n = 9 unique samples, 8.4-34.8 yrs). Archival control data (DBS only; n = 171, 0.5-39.9 yrs) was also included. RESULTS: Metabolites assessed included amino acids (plasma, DBS) and acylcarnitines, creatine, creatinine, and guanidinoacetate (DBS only). Age-related negative correlations for glycine (plasma, DBS) and sarcosine (N-methylglycine, plasma) were detected, accompanied by elevated proline and decreased levels of succinylacetone, argininosuccinate, formaminoglutamate, and creatinine. Significantly low acylcarnitines were detected in patients across all chain lengths (short-, medium- and long-chain). Significant age-dependent positive correlations for selected acylcarnitines (C6-, C12DC(dicarboxylic)-, C16-, C16:1-, C18:1-, C18:2OH-carnitines) were detected in patients and absent in controls. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves for all binary comparisons revealed argininosuccinate and succinylacetone to be the most discriminating biomarkers (area > 0.92). CONCLUSIONS: Age-dependent acylcarnitine correlations may represent metabolic compensation responsive to age-related changes in GHB and GABA. Our study highlights novel biomarkers in SSADHD and expands the metabolic pathophysiology of this rare disorder of GABA metabolism.

Metabolic Serendipities of Expanded Newborn Screening.

Incidental findings on newborn screening (NBS) are results that are not the target of screening within a given NBS program, but rather are found as a result of the screening and resulting diagnostic workup for that target. These findings may not have an immediate clinical impact on the newborn, but are sometimes an additional benefit of NBS programs and may be considered secondary targets of NBS programs. This work describes four case reports that had incidental findings on the NBS, which eventually led to the diagnosis of another metabolic disease instead of the one that was initially suspected. The first case was a new defect in the cationic amino acid transporter-2 (CAT-2), which was oriented as an arginase-1 deficiency in the newborn. The second case was a maternal glutaric aciduria type 1 (GA-1) that mimicked a carnitine transporter deficiency in the newborn. The third report was a case of lysinuric protein intolerance (LPI), which appeared as high levels of citrulline on the NBS. The fourth case was a mother with homocystinuria that was diagnosed during the biochemical study of vitamin B12 status. All cases provide new or interesting data that will help guide differential diagnosis in the future.

Plasma methylcitric acid and its correlations with other disease biomarkers: The impact in the follow up of patients with propionic and methylmalonic acidemia.

Methylcitric acid (MCA) analysis has been mainly utilized for the diagnosis of propionate disorders or as a second-tier test in newborn screening, but its utility for patients monitoring still needs to be established. We explored the potential contribution of MCA in the long-term management of organic acidurias. We prospectively evaluated plasma MCA and its relationship with disease biomarkers, clinical status, and disease burden in 22 patients, 13 with propionic acidemia (PA) and nine with methylmalonic acidemia (MMA) on standard treatment and/or after transplantation. Samples were collected at scheduled routine controls or during episodes of metabolic decompensation (MD), 10 patients were evaluated after transplantation (six liver, two combined liver and kidney, 2 kidney). MCA levels were higher in PA compared to MMA and its levels were not influenced by the clinical status (MD vs well state). In MMA, MCA was higher in elder patients and, along with fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) and plasma methylmalonic acid, negatively correlated with GFR. In both diseases, MCA correlated with ammonia, glycine, lysine, C3, and the C3/C2, C3/C16 ratios. The disease burden showed a direct correlation with MCA and FGF21, for both diseases. All transplanted patients showed a significant reduction of MCA in comparison to baseline values, with some differences dependent on the type of transplantation. Our study provided new insights in understanding the disease pathophysiology, showing similarities between MCA and FGF21 in predicting disease burden, long-term complications and in evaluating the impact of organ transplantation.

Institutional experience of newborn screening for inborn metabolism disorders by tandem MS in the Turkish population.

Background The tandem mass spectrometry method in the screening of congenital metabolic disorders is not included in routine national newborn screening programmes in Turkey. To evaluate the distribution of acylcarnitines and amino acid levels in normal newborns, establish acylcarnitine and amino acid cut-off levels and further preliminary results of inherited metabolic disorders inferentially in the Turkish population. Methods Newborn screening tests performed by tandem MS from 2016 to 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. The study group included 17,066 newborns born in our hospitals located in various regions of Turkey. Blood samples were obtained from infants older than 24 h of age. Among the 17,066 newborns, the metabolic screening data of 9,994 full-term newborns (>37 weeks) were employed to obtain the percentile distribution of the normal population. The study group (17,066) was screened for 26 types of inborn error of metabolism. Results Our established cut-offs, were compared with the cut-offs determined by Region for Stork Study and Centers for Disease Control. Among the 26 screened disorders, a total of 12 cases (8 amino acid metabolism disorders, 1 urea cycle defect, 2 organic acidaemias and 1 fatty acid oxidation disorder) were identified. Conclusions Because of the high rate of consanguineous marriages in Turkey, the development of a nationwide screening panel is necessary for early detection and management of potentially treatable inherited metabolic disorders.

Ethnic variability in newborn metabolic screening markers associated with false-positive outcomes.

Newborn screening (NBS) programmes utilise information on a variety of clinical variables such as gestational age, sex, and birth weight to reduce false-positive screens for inborn metabolic disorders. Here we study the influence of ethnicity on metabolic marker levels in a diverse newborn population. NBS data from screen-negative singleton babies (n = 100 000) were analysed, which included blood metabolic markers measured by tandem mass spectrometry and ethnicity status reported by the parents. Metabolic marker levels were compared between major ethnic groups (Asian, Black, Hispanic, White) using effect size analysis, which controlled for group size differences and influence from clinical variables. Marker level differences found between ethnic groups were correlated to NBS data from 2532 false-positive cases for four metabolic diseases: glutaric acidemia type 1 (GA-1), methylmalonic acidemia (MMA), ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency (OTCD), and very long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (VLCADD). In the result, 79% of the metabolic markers (34 of 43) had ethnicity-related differences. Compared to the other groups, Black infants had elevated GA-1 markers (C5DC, Cohen's d = .37, P < .001), Hispanics had elevated MMA markers (C3, Cohen's d = .13, P < .001, and C3/C2, Cohen's d = .27, P < .001); and Whites had elevated VLCADD markers (C14, Cohen's d = .28, P < .001, and C14:1, Cohen's d = .22, P < .001) and decreased OTCD markers (citrulline, Cohen's d = -.26, P < .001). These findings correlated with the higher false-positive rates in Black infants for GA-1, in Hispanics for MMA, and in Whites for OTCD and for VLCADD. Web-based tools are available to analyse ethnicity-related changes in newborn metabolism and to support developing methods to identify false-positives in metabolic screening.

Cardiometabolic risk factor clustering in patients with deficient branched-chain amino acid catabolism: A case-control study.

Classical organic acidemias (OAs) result from defective mitochondrial catabolism of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs). Abnormal mitochondrial function relates to oxidative stress, ectopic lipids and insulin resistance (IR). We investigated whether genetically impaired function of mitochondrial BCAA catabolism associates with cardiometabolic risk factors, altered liver and muscle energy metabolism, and IR. In this case-control study, 31 children and young adults with propionic acidemia (PA), methylmalonic acidemia (MMA) or isovaleric acidemia (IVA) were compared with 30 healthy young humans using comprehensive metabolic phenotyping including in vivo 31 P/1 H magnetic resonance spectroscopy of liver and skeletal muscle. Among all OAs, patients with PA exhibited abdominal adiposity, IR, fasting hyperglycaemia and hypertriglyceridemia as well as increased liver fat accumulation, despite dietary energy intake within recommendations for age and sex. In contrast, patients with MMA more frequently featured higher energy intake than recommended and had a different phenotype including hepatomegaly and mildly lower skeletal muscle ATP content. In skeletal muscle of patients with PA, slightly lower inorganic phosphate levels were found. However, hepatic ATP and inorganic phosphate concentrations were not different between all OA patients and controls. In patients with IVA, no abnormalities were detected. Impaired BCAA catabolism in PA, but not in MMA or IVA, was associated with a previously unrecognised, metabolic syndrome-like phenotype with abdominal adiposity potentially resulting from ectopic lipid storage. These findings suggest the need for early cardiometabolic risk factor screening in PA.

Novel method for l-methionine determination using l-methionine decarboxylase and application of the enzyme for l-homocysteine determination.

For many years, clinical studies have suggested that blood levels of l-methionine and L-homocysteine correlate with health status or homocystinuria/hypermethioninemia. l-Methionine in a solution containing 0%, 10%, or 20% human serum was detected in 10-200 µM using l-methionine decarboxylase (MetDC). Spike and recovery tests showed that the enzymatic assay could accurately and reproducibly determine the increases in l-methionine in serum samples. These results suggest that our enzymatic method using MetDC is useful for primary screening of hypermethioninemia or homocystinuria based on serum l-methionine concentration. Additionally, we confirmed that l-methionine (100 nmol) in solution was degraded to less than the detection limit by incubation at 37ºC for 10 min using 2 U of MetDC. Therefore, l-homocysteine in serum samples can be detected with equivalent sensitivity using l-methionine γ-lyase (MGL), in solutions that either did not contain l-methionine or contained l-methionine preincubated with MetDC.Abbreviations: DTT: dithiothreitol; IPTG: isopropyl-ß-d-thiogalactopyranoside; KPB: potassium phosphate buffer; MBTH: 3-methyl-2-benzothiazolinonehydrazone; mdc: the gene coding l-methionine decarboxylase; MetDC: l-methionine decarboxylase; mgl: the gene coding l-methionine γ-lyase; MGL: l-methionine γ-lyase; PLP: pyridoxal 5'-phosphate.

Elevated levels of BDNF and cathepsin-d as possible peripheral markers of neurodegeneration in plasma of patients with glutaric acidemia type I.

Glutaric acidemia type I (GA1) is caused by severe deficiency of glutaryl-CoA dehydrogenase activity, resulting in an accumulation of glutaric acid and glutarylcarnitine (C5DC) in the organism. Patients affected by GA1 are asymptomatic in the neonate period but usually manifest chronically progressive neurodegeneration apart from severe encephalopathic crises associated with acute striatum necrosis. Neurological manifestations like dyskinesia, dystonia, hypotonia, muscle stiffness, and spasticity are present. Treatment is based on protein/lysine restriction and l-carnitine supplementation. In this work, we evaluated markers of neurodegeneration and inflammation, namely BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor), NCAM (neuronal adhesion molecule), PDGF-AA (platelet-derived growth factor), and cathepsin-d in plasma of six treated GA1 patients. We first found marked increases of plasma C5DC concentrations in GA1 patients, as well as increased levels of the markers BDNF and cathepsin-d as compared to those of age-matched healthy children. Furthermore, C5DC concentrations were highly correlated with the levels of cathepsin-d. These results may demonstrate that brain tissue degeneration is present in GA1 patients and that there is a relationship between increased metabolites concentrations with this process. To the best of our knowledge, this is so far the first study showing altered peripheral parameters of neurodegeneration and inflammation in GA1 patients.

Molecular analysis using targeted next generation DNA sequencing and clinical spectrum of Mexican patients with isovaleric acidemia.

Isovaleric acidemia (IVA) is an inborn error of metabolism caused by deficiency of isovaleryl-CoA dehydrogenase. IVA clinical picture includes gastroenterological and progressive neurological symptoms which can lead to permanent disability and death. Early detection by newborn screening (NBS) and treatment promotes normal development. In this study, clinical summaries, biochemical measurements and targeted next generation sequencing (tNGS) data from the IVD gene were compared in 13 Mexican patients. The main symptoms were vomiting, feeding refusal, abdominal pain, impaired alertness, lethargy, stupor, coma; hypotonia, ataxia, hallucinations, seizures; anemia, neutropenia and pancytopenia. Mean blood concentration of isovalerylcarnintine was above the reference value (0.5 µM) in symptomatic patients (8.78 µM), as well as in the screen positive newborns (2.23 µM). The molecular spectrum of this cohort was heterogeneous, with 14 different variants identified, seven were previously-described, and seven were novel. The most frequent variant was c.158G > C (p.R53P). In this study, we found a long diagnostic delay (average of 44 months). Thus, it is essential to increase physician awareness of this treatable condition. Biochemical IVA NBS accompanied by molecular studies (e.g. tNGS) will permit identification of potentially asymptomatic forms of the disease, and improve genotype-phenotype relationship, management decisions and follow-up.

High throughput newborn screening for aromatic ʟ-amino-acid decarboxylase deficiency by analysis of concentrations of 3-O-methyldopa from dried blood spots.

Aromatic l-amino-acid decarboxylase (AADC) deficiency is an inherited disorder of biogenic amine metabolism with a broad neurological phenotype. The clinical symptoms overlap with other diseases resulting in an often delayed diagnosis. Innovative disease-changing treatment options, particularly gene therapy, have emphasised the need for an early diagnosis. We describe the first method for 3-O-methyldopa (3-OMD) analysis in dried blood spots (DBS) suitable for high throughput newborn screening (NBS). We established a novel tandem mass spectrometry method to quantify 3-OMD in DBS and successfully tested it in 38 888 unaffected newborns, 14 heterozygous DDC variant carriers, seven known AADC deficient patients, and 1079 healthy control subjects. 3-OMD concentrations in 38 888 healthy newborns revealed a mean of 1.16 µmol/L (SD = 0.31, range 0.31-4.6 µmol/L). 1079 non-AADC control subjects (0-18 years) showed a mean 3-OMD concentration of 0.78 µmol/L (SD = 1.75, range 0.24-2.36 µmol/L) with a negative correlation with age. Inter- and intra-assay variability was low, and 3-OMD was stable over 32 days under different storage conditions. We identified seven confirmed AADC deficient patients (mean 3-OMD 9.88 µmol/L [SD = 13.42, range 1.82-36.93 µmol/L]). The highest concentration of 3-OMD was found in a NBS filter card of a confirmed AADC deficient patient with a mean 3-OMD of 35.95 µmol/L. 14 DDC variant carriers showed normal 3-OMD concentrations. We demonstrate a novel high-throughput method to measure 3-OMD in DBS, which allows integration in existing NBS programs enabling early diagnosis of AADC deficiency.

Temporal metabolomics in dried bloodspots suggests multipathway disruptions in aldh5a1-/- mice, a model of succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase deficiency.

Succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase (SSADH) deficiency (SSADHD; OMIM 271980) is a rare disorder featuring accumulation of neuroactive 4-aminobutyric acid (GABA; γ-aminobutyric acid, derived from glutamic acid) and 4-hydroxybutyric acid (γ-hydroxybutyric acid; GHB, a short-chain fatty acid analogue of GABA). Elevated GABA is predicted to disrupt the GABA shunt linking GABA transamination to the Krebs cycle and maintaining the balance of excitatory:inhibitory neurotransmitters. Similarly, GHB (or a metabolite) is predicted to impact ß-oxidation flux. We explored these possibilities employing temporal metabolomics of dried bloodspots (DBS), quantifying amino acids, acylcarnitines, and guanidino- metabolites, derived from aldh5a1+/+, aldh5a1+/- and aldh5a1-/- mice (aldehyde dehydrogenase 5a1 = SSADH) at day of life (DOL) 20 and 42 days. At DOL 20, aldh5a1-/- mice had elevated C6 dicarboxylic (adipic acid) and C14 carnitines and threonine, combined with a significantly elevated ratio of threonine/[aspartic acid + alanine], in comparison to aldh5a1+/+ mice. Conversely, at DOL 42 aldh5a1-/- mice manifested decreased short chain carnitines (C0-C6), valine and glutamine, in comparison to aldh5a1+/+ mice. Guanidino species, including creatinine, creatine and guanidinoacetic acid, evolved from normal levels (DOL 20) to significantly decreased values at DOL 42 in aldh5a1-/- as compared to aldh5a1+/+ mice. Our results provide a novel temporal snapshot of the evolving metabolic profile of aldh5a1-/- mice while highlighting new pathomechanisms in SSADHD.

Excessive Methionine Supplementation Exacerbates the Development of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm in Rats.

OBJECTIVE: The relationship between methionine (Met) and abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) has been previously demonstrated, but the mechanisms controlling this association remain unclear. This study investigated the potential contribution of hypermethioninemia (HMet) to the development of AAA. METHODS: A model of AAA was induced by intraluminal porcine pancreatic elastase (PPE) infusion in 60 male Sprague-Dawley rats divided into 4 groups (n = 15 per group). Met was supplied by intragastric administration (1 g/kg body weight/day) from 1 week before surgery until 4 weeks after surgery. The aortic diameter was measured by ultrasound. Aortas were collected 4 weeks after surgery and subjected to biochemical analysis, histological assays, and transmission electron microscopy. RESULTS: After 5 weeks of Met supplementation, HMet increased the dilation ratio of the HMet + PPE group, and hyperhomocysteinemia was also induced in HMet and HMet + PPE rats. Increased matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), osteopontin, and interleukin-6 expression was detected in HMet + PPE rats. Furthermore, increased autophagy was detected in the HMet + PPE group. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that HMet may exacerbate the formation of AAA due to the increased dilation ratio partially via enhancing MMP-2 and inflammatory responses.

Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate content in dried bloodspots facilitates newborn detection of succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase deficiency.

Increased gamma-hydroxybutyric acid in urine and blood are metabolic hallmarks of succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase deficiency, a defect of 4-aminobutyric acid metabolism. Here, we examined the hypothesis that succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase deficiency could be identified via measurement of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid in newborn and post-newborn dried bloodspots. Quantitation of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry in twelve archival newborn patient dried bloodspots was 360 ±â€¯57 µM (mean, standard error; range 111-767), all values exceeding the previously established cutoff for newborn detection of 78 µΜ established from 2831 dried bloodspots derived from newborns, neonates and children. Gamma-hydroxybutyric acid in post-newborn dried bloodspots (n = 19; ages 0.8-38 years) was 191 ±â€¯65 µM (mean, standard error; range 20-1218), exceeding the aforementioned GHB cutoff for patients approximately 10 years of age or younger. Further, gamma-hydroxybutyric acid in post-newborn dried bloodspots displayed a significant (p < .0001) inverse correlation with age. This preliminary study suggests that succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase deficiency may be identified in newborn and post-newborn dried bloodspots via quantitation of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid, while forming the platform for more extensive studies in affected and unaffected dried bloodspots.