title: Application of CE-MS to a metabonomics study of human urine from cigarette smokers and non-smokers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Novel biomarkers of exposure and early adverse effects are needed for comparative studies of combustible and non-combustible tobacco products for regulatory authority evaluation. Metabolic biomarkers reflect both gene and environmental effects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CE-MS has been applied to human urine samples from non-smokers and smokers of cigarettes at two tar levels. Validated chemometric models were able to separate smokers from non-smokers, with discrimination mainly based on the presence of nicotine metabolites. With these removed, it still proved possible to discriminate smokers from non-smokers with models now based on endogenous metabolites. The biochemical relevance of these biomarkers is discussed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This proof-of-principle metabonomics study illustrates the potential of CE-MS to discover novel biomarkers in urine from tobacco users.
authors.affiliation: Metabometrix Ltd, Bioincubator, Prince Consort Road, South Kensington, London SW7 2BP, UK.
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Garcia-Perez
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Lindon
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Minet
mesh_terms: D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D055432:Metabolomics / Q000379:methods*; D009538:Nicotine / Q000652:urine*; D012907:Smoking / Q000652:urine*
chemical_list: D009538:Nicotine