title: Targeted quantitative analysis of fatty acids in atherosclerotic plaques by high sensitivity liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry.
abstract: The quantitative analysis of fatty acid composition in atherosclerotic plaques provides a way to monitor the underlying etiology of atherosclerosis. Previously, the method of choice for analyzing fatty acids in biological samples was gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS); however, recent developments in electrospray ionization (ESI)/liquid chromatography (LC)/tandem mass spectrometry have made it a superior alternative. Previous research has largely focused on global analyses of intact lipids rather than more targeted analysis of the fatty acids themselves. We have now developed a targeted, stable isotope dilution LC-electrospray ionization/multiple reaction monitoring/MS method for the quantitative analysis of 10 fatty acids (myristic, palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic, alpha-linolenic, gamma-linolenic, arachidonic, eicosapentaenoic, and docosahexaenoic acids) using their trimethylaminoethyl ester (TMAE) derivatives to improve sensitivity. The method was validated, had a detection limit in the fmol range, and was used in the analysis of fatty acids in atherosclerotic plaques from carotid arteries.
authors.affiliation: Center for Cancer Pharmacology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 854 BRB II/III, 421 Curie Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6160, USA.
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pettinella
authors.forename: Seon Hwa
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cipollone
authors.forename: Ian A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Blair
mesh_terms: D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid / Q000379:methods*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization / Q000379:methods*; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D005227:Fatty Acids