title: Quantitative profiling of endocannabinoids in lipoproteins by LC-MS/MS.
abstract: Endocannabinoids belong to a diverse family of endogenous lipid bioregulators acting as physiological ligands of cannabinoid receptor type 1 and cannabinoid receptor type 2 in the central and peripheral nervous system. They are also present in nmol L(-1) concentrations in human blood plasma; however, their association with possible molecular carriers remains poorly characterized. Here we report on the quantification of 46 endogenous molecular species from five major classes of endocannabinoids and endocannabinoid-related compounds in three lipoprotein fractions of human blood plasma: VLDL, LDL, HDL, and in the plasma lipoprotein-free fraction. Although sizable quantities of endocannabinoid-related molecules are associated with lipoproteins, we identified the lipoprotein-free fraction as a major carrier of endocannabinoids in blood circulation with the exception of 2-acylglycerols, which are markedly abundant in VLDL.
authors.affiliation: Max Planck Institute for Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstraße 108, 01307, Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: Mesut
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bilgin
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bindila
authors.forename: Juergen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Graessler
authors.forename: Andrej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shevchenko
mesh_terms: D002853:Chromatography, Liquid / Q000379:methods; D063388:Endocannabinoids / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry*; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry*; D008079:Lipoproteins, VLDL / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry*; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D063388:Endocannabinoids; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D008079:Lipoproteins, VLDL