| 1. |
- Abujrais, Sandy, et al.
(författare)
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Analysis of tryptophan metabolites and related compounds in human and murine tissue : development and validation of a quantitative and semi-quantitative method using high resolution mass spectrometry
- 2024
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Ingår i: Analytical Methods. - : Royal Society of Chemistry. - 1759-9660 .- 1759-9679. ; 16:7, s. 1074-1082
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This study explores the metabolic differences between human and murine plasma in addition to differences between murine subcutaneous and visceral white adipose tissue. A quantitative and semi-quantitative targeted method was developed and validated for this purpose. The quantitative method includes tryptophan and its metabolites in addition to tyrosine, phenylalanine, taurine, B vitamins, neopterin, cystathionine and hypoxanthine. While the semi-quantitative method includes; 3-indoleacetic acid, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, acetylcholine, asymmetric dimethylarginine, citrulline and methionine. Sample preparation was based on protein precipitation, while quantification was conducted using ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography coupled to a quadrupole Orbitrap tandem mass spectrometer with electrospray ionization in the parallel reaction monitoring (PRM) mode. The low limit of quantification for all metabolites ranged from 1 to 200 ng mL-1. Matrix effects and recoveries for stable isotope labelled internal standards were evaluated, with most having a coefficient of variation (CV) of less than 15%. Results showed that a majority of the analytes passed both the intra- and interday precision and accuracy criteria. The comparative analysis of human and murine plasma metabolites reveals species-specific variations within the tryptophan metabolic pathway. Notably, murine plasma generally exhibits elevated concentrations of most compounds in this pathway, with the exceptions of kynurenine and quinolinic acid. Moreover, the investigation uncovers noteworthy metabolic disparities between murine visceral and subcutaneous white adipose tissues, with the subcutaneous tissue demonstrating significantly higher concentrations of tryptophan, phenylalanine, tyrosine, and serotonin. The findings also show that even a semi-quantitative method can provide comparable results to quantitative methods from other studies and be effective for assessing metabolites in a complex sample. Overall, this study provides a robust platform to compare human and murine metabolism, providing a valuable insight to future investigations. A validated HRMS method for measuring tryptophan metabolites and related compounds has been developed, with simple sample preparation, successfully applied in human and murine plasma, as well as murine white adipose tissue.
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| 2. |
- Akhter, Tansim, 1967-, et al.
(författare)
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Elevated Plasma Levels of Arginines During Labor Among Women with Spontaneous Preterm Birth : A Prospective Cohort Study
- 2024
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Ingår i: American Journal of Reproductive Immunology. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 1046-7408 .- 1600-0897. ; 91:6
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Problem: Preterm birth (PTB) is a leading cause of infant mortality and morbidity. The pathogenesis of PTB is complex and involves many factors, including socioeconomy, inflammation and infection. Asymmetric dimethylarginine, ADMA and symmetric dimethylarginine, SDMA are involved in labor as inhibitors of nitric oxide, a known relaxant of the uterine smooth muscles. Arginines are scarcely studied in relation to PTB and we aimed to investigate arginines (ADMA, SDMA and L-arginine) in women with spontaneous PTB and term birth.Methods of the Study: The study was based on data from the population-based, prospective cohort BASIC study conducted in Uppsala County, Sweden, between September 2009 and November 2018. Arginines were analyzed by Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography using plasma samples taken at the onset of labor from women with spontaneous PTB (n = 34) and term birth (n = 45). We also analyzed the inflammation markers CRP, TNF-R1 and TNF-R2 and GDF-15.Results: Women with spontaneous PTB had higher plasma levels of ADMA (p < 0.001), and L-Arginine (p = 0.03). In addition, inflammation marker, TNF-R1 (p = 0.01) was higher in spontaneous PTB compared to term birth. Further, in spontaneous PTB, no significant correlations could be observed when comparing levels of arginines with inflammation markers, except ADMA versus CRP.Conclusions: These findings provide novel evidence for the potential involvement of arginines in the pathogenesis of spontaneous PTB and it seems that arginine levels at labor vary independently of several inflammatory markers. Further research is warranted to investigate the potential of arginines as therapeutic targets in the prevention and management of spontaneous PTB.
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| 3. |
- Akhter, Tansim, 1967-, et al.
(författare)
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Plasma levels of arginines at term pregnancy in relation to mode of onset of labor and mode of childbirth
- 2023
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Ingår i: American Journal of Reproductive Immunology. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 1046-7408 .- 1600-0897. ; 90:3
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- PROBLEM: The exact biochemical mechanisms that initiate labor are not yet fully understood. Nitric oxide is a potent relaxant of uterine smooth muscles until labor starts, and its precursor is L-arginine. Asymmetric (ADMA) and symmetric (SDMA) dimethylarginines, are potent NO-inhibitors. However, arginines (dimethylarginines and L-arginine) are scarcely studied in relation to labor and childbirth. We aimed to investigate arginines in women with spontaneous (SLVB) and induced (ILVB) term labor with vaginal birth and in women undergoing elective caesarean section (ECS).METHOD OF STUDY: Women at gestational week 16-18 were recruited to the population-based prospective cohort study BASIC at the Uppsala University Hospital, Sweden. Plasma samples taken at start of labor were analyzed for arginines, from SLVB (n = 45), ILVB (n = 45), and ECS (n = 45), using Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography. Between-group differences were assessed using Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U-test.RESULTS: Women with SLVB and ILVB had higher levels of ADMA (p < .0001), SDMA (p < .05) and lower L-arginines (p < .01), L-arginine/ADMA (p < .0001), and L-arginine/SDMA (p < .01, respectively <.001) compared to ECS. However, ILVB had higher ADMA (p < .0001) and lower L-arginine (p < .01), L-arginine/ADMA (p < .0001), and L-arginine/SDMA (p < .01) compared to SLVB. Results are adjusted for gestational length at birth and cervical dilatation at sampling.CONCLUSION: Our novel findings of higher levels of dimethylarginines in term vaginal births compared to ECS give insights into the biochemical mechanisms of labor. These findings might also serve as a basis for further studies of arginines in complicated pregnancies and labor.
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| 4. |
- Al-Mahdi Al-Karagholi, Mohammad, et al.
(författare)
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Phase 1 study to access safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of kynurenine in healthy volunteers
- 2021
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Ingår i: Pharmacology Research & Perspectives. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 2052-1707. ; 9:2
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The kynurenine pathway (KP) is the main path for tryptophan metabolism, and it represents a multitude of potential sites for drug discovery in neuroscience, including pain, stroke, and epilepsy. L-kynurenine (LKYN), the first active metabolite in the pathway, emerges to be a prodrug targeting glutamate receptors. The safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of LKYN in humans have not been previously investigated. In an open-label, single ascending dose study, six participants received an intravenous infusion of 50, 100, and 150 µg/kg LKYN and new six participants received an intravenous infusion of 0.3, 0.5, 1, and 5 mg/kg LKYN. To compare the pharmacological effects between species, we investigated in vivo the vascular effects of LKYN in rats. In humans, LKYN was safe and well-tolerated at all dose levels examined. After infusion, LKYN plasma concentration increased significantly over time 3.23 ± 1.12 µg/mL (after 50 µg/kg), 4.04 ± 1.1 µg/mL (after 100 µg/kg), and 5.25 ± 1.01 µg/mL (after 150 µg/kg) (p ≤ 0.001). We observed no vascular changes after infusion compared with baseline. In rats, LKYN had no effect on HR and MAP and caused no dilation of dural and pial arteries. This first-in-human study of LKYN showed that LKYN was safe and well-tolerated after intravenous infusion up to 5 mg/kg over 20 minutes. The lack of change in LKYN metabolites in plasma suggests a relatively slow metabolism of LKYN and no or little feed-back effect of LKYN on its synthesis. The therapeutic potential of LKYN in stroke and epilepsy should be explored in future studies in humans.
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| 5. |
- Almokhtar, Mokhtar, et al.
(författare)
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Motor neuron-like NSC-34 cells as a new model for the study of vitamin D metabolism in the brain.
- 2016
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Ingår i: Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0960-0760 .- 1879-1220. ; 158, s. 178-188
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Vitamin D-3 is a pro-hormone, which is sequentially activated by 25- and 1 alpha-hydroxylation to form 25-hydroxyvitamin D-3 [25(OH)D-3] and 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D-3 [1 alpha,25(OH)2D(3)], respectively. Subsequent inactivation is performed by 24-hydroxylation. These reactions are carried out by a series of CYP450 enzymes. The 25-hydroxylation involves mainly CYP2R1 and CYP27A1, whereas 1 alpha-hydroxylation and 24-hydroxylation are catalyzed by CYP27B1 and CYP24A1, respectively, and are tightly regulated to maintain adequate levels of the active vitamin D hormone, 1 alpha,25(OH)(2)D-3. Altered circulating vitamin D levels, in particular 25(OH)D-3, have been linked to several disorders of the nervous system, e.g., schizophrenia and Parkinson disease. However, little is known about the mechanisms of vitamin D actions in the neurons. In this study, we examined vitamin D metabolism and its regulation in a murine motor neuron-like hybrid cell line, NSC-34. We found that these cells express mRNAs for the four major CYP450 enzymes involved in vitamin D activation and inactivation, and vitamin D receptor (VDR) that mediates vitamin D actions. We also found high levels of CYP24A1-dependent 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D-3 [24,25(OH)(2)D-3] production, that was inhibited by the well-known CYP enzyme inhibitor ketoconazole and by several inhibitors that are more specific for CYP24A1. Furthermore, CYP24A1 mRNA levels in NSC-34 cells were up-regulated by 1 alpha,25(OH)(2)D-3 and its synthetic analogs, EB1089 and tacalcitol. Our results suggest that NSC-34 cells could be a novel model for the studies of neuronal vitamin D metabolism and its mechanism of actions.
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| 6. |
- Asser, Andres, et al.
(författare)
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Acute effects of methcathinone and manganese in mice : A dose response study
- 2019
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Ingår i: Heliyon. - : ELSEVIER SCI LTD. - 2405-8440. ; 5:9
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- An intravenously injectable illicit drug made by mixing pseudoephedrine, potassium permanganate, vinegar and water, yielding methcathinone (Mcat) and manganese (Mn), induces an extrapyramidal syndrome with parkinsonism, dystonia, gait and balance disorders similar to manganism. Although the cause of the syndrome is largely attributed to Mn, the interaction of the drug's individual components is not known and the role of Mcat is possibly underestimated. Aim of the present study was to analyze dose-dependent behavioral effects of the mixture and its two main active components Mcat and Mn in an acute setting and determine the lethal doses of each substance. Three groups of C57BL/6 mice were injected intraperitoneally with (1) the drug mixture containing 10, 25, 50, 100 or 150 mg of Mcat and respectively 1.6, 3.8, 6.9, 17.1 and 22.6 mg of Mn per kilogram of body weight; (2) 10, 25, 50, 100, 150, 200 or 300 mg of racemic Mcat/kg of body weight; (3) MnCl2 10, 25 or 50 mg/kg of body weight. Locomotor activity of the animals, various signs and time of death were recorded. Lower doses (10 and 25 mg/kg) of Mcat had a clear motor activity stimulating effect and this was clearly dose-dependent. High doses of Mcat produced epileptic seizures in 74% of the animals and became lethal with the highest doses. Similarly, the mixture had a clear dose-dependent stimulating effect and the higher doses became lethal. The LD50 of the pseudoephedrine mixture was 110.2 mg of Mcat/kg and for pure Mcat 201.7 mg/kg. Mn did not prove to be lethal in doses up to 50 mg/kg, but had a strong dose dependent inhibitory effect on the animals' behavior. Our data reveal that both Mn and Mcat have a significant role in the toxicity of the mixture.
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| 7. |
- Bowden, John A., et al.
(författare)
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Harmonizing lipidomics : NIST interlaboratory comparison exercise for lipidomics using SRM 1950-Metabolites in Frozen Human Plasma
- 2017
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Ingår i: Journal of Lipid Research. - 0022-2275 .- 1539-7262. ; 58:12, s. 2275-2288
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- As the lipidomics field continues to advance, self-evaluation within the community is critical. Here, we performed an interlaboratory comparison exercise for lipidomics using Standard Reference Material (SRM) 1950-Metabolites in Frozen Human Plasma, a commercially available reference material. The interlaboratory study comprised 31 diverse laboratories, with each laboratory using a different lipidomics workflow. A total of 1,527 unique lipids were measured across all laboratories and consensus location estimates and associated uncertainties were determined for 339 of these lipids measured at the sum composition level by five or more participating laboratories. These evaluated lipids detected in SRM 1950 serve as community-wide benchmarks for intra-and interlaboratory quality control and method validation. These analyses were performed using nonstandardized laboratory-independent workflows. The consensus locations were also compared with a previous examination of SRM 1950 by the LIPID MAPS consortium.jlr While the central theme of the interlaboratory study was to provide values to help harmonize lipids, lipid mediators, and precursor measurements across the community, it was also initiated to stimulate a discussion regarding areas in need of improvement.
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| 8. |
- de Kock, Neil, et al.
(författare)
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A Novel Targeted Analysis of Peripheral Steroids by Ultra-Performance Supercritical Fluid Chromatography Hyphenated to Tandem Mass Spectrometry
- 2018
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Ingår i: Scientific Reports. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2045-2322. ; 8
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Ultra-performance supercritical fluid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPSFC-MS/MS) is an alternative method for steroid analysis. Continuous development of analytical methodologies for steroid profiling is of major importance in the clinical environment to provide useful and more comprehensive data. The aim of this study was to identify and quantify a large number of endogenous steroids from the four major classes (estrogens, androgens, progestogens and corticosteroids) simultaneously within a short analytical time. This novel UPSFC-MS/MS method with electrospray in positive ionisation (ESI+) mode is robust, selective and present sufficiently high sensitivity to profile nineteen steroids in 50 mu L human plasma. Under optimised conditions, nineteen different steroids were separated with high efficiency in the multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. The linearity of the method was good with correlation coefficients (R-2) in the range of 0.9983-0.9999 and with calibration range from 0.05-500 ng/mL in human plasma. The intraday and interday precision of the method, as RSD, was less than 15%. The accuracy of the nineteen analytes varied between 80 to 116%. Finally, the novel method was successfully applied for the determination of nineteen steroids within 5 minutes providing the possibility to use it for research as well as routine healthcare practice.
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| 9. |
- de Kock, Neil
(författare)
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Mass spectrometry based analysis of endogenous sterols and hormones
- 2018
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Bioanalytical applications using supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) as analytical technique are of increasing interest. In essence, bioanalysis involves measurement of bioactive or endogenous compounds in biological matrices. SFC has emerged as an excellent choice for bioanalytical analysis, attributable to its speed, selectivity and efficiency compared with high performance liquid chromatography. Moreover, coupling of SFC with mass spectrometry (MS) provides the additional benefits of specificity and sensitivity.The aim of this thesis was to exploit these features by developing methods for the analysis of endogenous steroids, cholesterol oxidation products (COPs) and thyroid hormones (THs) by using ultra-performance supercritical fluid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UPSFC–MS/MS) as analytical technique.Endogenous steroids control many physiological processes, including reproduction, maturation, gene expression and neurological functions in humans and animals. In the first study, three steroids were measured in domesticated White Leghorn (WL) chickens and ancestral Red Junglefowl (RJF) birds. Restraining stress caused a significantly larger increase in corticosterone levels in RJF than in WL, indicating a blunted hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis activity in domesticated chickens. The second study was a continuation of the first study and corticosterone levels from the F12 generation of an intercross between WL and RJF birds were measured before and after physical restraint stress. The expression levels of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) in the hypothalamus and several genes in the adrenal glands were correlated with the post-stress levels of corticosterone in plasma. In the third study, the measurement of steroids was extended to assess more endogenous steroids from the four major classes, i.e. estrogens, androgens, progestogens and corticosterone.Endogenous COPs are of interest in pathophysiology. COPs are more readily disposed by cells than cholesterol. Therefore, cholesterol is oxidised to the more polar COPs and are generally more bioactive than cholesterol. Moreover, if their production in cells and tissues and/or their introduction with dietary animal fat are excessive, COPs could indeed contribute to the pathogenesis of various disease processes. Fourteen COPs were included in the fourth study and a novel method for their separation was developed.The last study in this thesis, involved the analysis of five THs. These hormones are vital for growth, developmental and metabolic processes of vertebrate life and play an important role in energy homeostasis. Measurements of circulating thyroid hormone levels are used in thyroid disorder diagnoses or treatment status monitoring. Two rapid methods for the separation of five THs were developed.In summary, the work in this thesis demonstrates the applicability of UPSFC–MS/MS as an analytical technique in bioanalysis of endogenous compounds.
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| 10. |
- Fallahshahroudi, Amir, et al.
(författare)
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Effects of the domestic thyroid stimulating hormone receptor (TSHR) variant on the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis and behavior in chicken
- 2021
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Ingår i: Genetics. - : Oxford University Press. - 0016-6731 .- 1943-2631. ; 217:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Domestic chickens are less fearful, have a faster sexual development, grow bigger, and lay more eggs than their primary ancestor, the red junglefowl. Several candidate genetic variants selected during domestication have been identified, but only a few studies have directly linked them with distinct phenotypic traits. Notably, a variant of the thyroid stimulating hormone receptor (TSHR) gene has been under strong positive selection over the past millennium, but it’s function and mechanisms of action are still largely unresolved. We therefore assessed the abundance of the domestic TSHR variant and possible genomic selection signatures in an extensive data set comprising multiple commercial and village chicken populations as well as wild-living extant members of the genus Gallus. Furthermore, by mean of extensive backcrossing we introgressed the wild-type TSHR variant from red junglefowl into domestic White Leghorn chickens and investigated gene expression, hormone levels, cold adaptation, and behavior in chickens possessing either the wild-type or domestic TSHR variant. While the domestic TSHR was the most common variant in all studied domestic populations and in one of two red junglefowl population, it was not detected in the other Gallus species. Functionally, the individuals with the domestic TSHR variant had a lower expression of the TSHR in the hypothalamus and marginally higher in the thyroid gland than wild-type TSHR individuals. Expression of TSHB and DIO2, two regulators of sexual maturity and reproduction in birds, was higher in the pituitary gland of the domestic-variant chickens. Furthermore, the domestic variant was associated with higher activity in the open field test. Our findings confirm that the spread of the domestic TSHR variant is limited to domesticated chickens, and to a lesser extent, their wild counterpart, the red junglefowl. Furthermore, we showed that effects of genetic variability in TSHR mirror key differences in gene expression and behavior previously described between the red junglefowl and domestic chicken.
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