title: Quantitative analysis of multiple fatty acid ethanolamides using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.
abstract: Fatty acid ethanolamides (FAE) represent a group of lipid signaling molecules associated with many physiological and pharmacological actions; however, low FAE tissue levels pose challenges in terms of analytical characterization. The objective was to develop a competent ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method for analysis of multiple FAE in animal and human tissue samples. Analytes were extracted using lipid-phase and solid-phase extraction procedures. Chromatographic separation was achieved using a gradient elution in 8 min. FAE were quantified by MS/MS in positive electrospray ionization mode. Linearity was shown in lower and higher FAE concentration ranges, with a limit of quantification (LOQ) ≤0.2 ng/ml for FAE including alpha-linolenoylethanolamide (ALEA), arachidonoylethanolamide (AEA), docosahexaenoylethanolamide (DHEA), linoleoylethanolamide (LEA), oleoylethanolamide (OEA) and palmitoylethanolamide (PEA). Accuracy was shown to be between 92.4% and 108.8%, and precision was <10% for all FAE species. In sum, this sensitive and reproducible method can be used to simultaneously determine multiple FAE at low concentrations in order to facilitate further study of the role of FAE on physiological state.
authors.affiliation: Richardson Centre for Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals, Department of Human Nutritional Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Haifeng
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Peter J H
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002138:Calibration; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D006224:Cricetinae; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000378:metabolism*; D057230:Limit of Detection; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D053284:Polyunsaturated Alkamides / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D052616:Solid Phase Extraction; D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry
chemical_list: D005227:Fatty Acids; D053284:Polyunsaturated Alkamides