AbstractsBiology & Animal Science

Metabolites are low molecular weight compounds participating in different functions of cellular systems. Metabolites can be used as diagnostic biomarkers for numerous diseases. Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) is a powerful tool in quantification of metabolites from various sample matrices. Good sensitivity and specificity are the main benefits of the technique. Mass spectrometry is commonly used in industry, drug research and clinical diagnostics. Extensive validation of newly developed analytical methods will construct the basis to a reliable assay, and it is significant especially when analysing e.g. patient samples. The aim of this study was to develop quantitative assays for metabolites from biological samples for biomedical research and clinical diagnostics. We designed and constructed an on-line high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) equipment and validated an assay for direct quantification of extracellular metabolites from cell cultivation. Automated sampling for LC-MS/MS analysis of intracellular metabolites was connected to the on-line system. The on-line analysis improves the methodology and shortens the time of analysis. Furthermore, a frequent sampling data can provide valuable information about physiological indications in various cell cultivations. On-line HPLC is suitable for various biotechnological applications because of its ability to monitor and collect data during cell cultivation. We developed and validated LC-MS/MS assays for neuroendocrine tumor (NET) biomarkers 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid (5-HIAA) and vanillylmandelic acid (VMA) from human serum. Generally, urinary HPLC assays are used for the determination of NET markers. HPLC assays have certain limitations and 24-h urine collection is laborious. Our LC-MS/MS assays are specific, fast and well suited for diagnostics of NETs. Furthermore, guidelines for urine collection advise to refrain from serotonin-containing foods for three days before sample collection. We showed that such a diet restriction before serum 5-HIAA assay is not necessary. Instead, one day serotonin-free diet before sampling is sufficient because the half-life of 5-HIAA in circulation was found to be 1.3 hours. All assays developed during this study were sensitive and had a wide linear range. Our serum 5-HIAA LC-MS/MS assay is routinely used for the analysis of NET patient samples at the Helsinki University Central Hospital Laboratory, HUSLAB. Serum VMA LC-MS/MS assay will be in routine use in the HUSLAB in near future. Furthermore, On-line HPLC Ltd, (Helsinki, Finland) has commercialized the on-line HPLC equipment developed in this study. Metaboliitit ovat pienen molekyylipainon omaavia yhdisteitä, jotka osallistuvat erilaisiin toimintoihin solujen aineenvaihdunnassa. Eri metaboliitit toimivat myös useiden sairauksien merkkiaineina ja niiden pitoisuuden mittausta käytetään apuna sairauksien toteamisessa sekä seurannassa. Nestekromatografia (LC) yhdistettynä massaspektrometriaan (MS) on tehokas analyysitekniikka metaboliittien…