Effects of anticoagulants and storage conditions on clinical oxylipid levels in human plasma

• Published in: Biochimica et biophysica acta. Molecular and cell biology of lipids Vol. 1863; no. 12; pp. 1511 - 1522
• Main Authors: Jonasdottir, Hulda S., Brouwers, Hilde, Toes, René E.M., Ioan-Facsinay, Andreea, Giera, Martin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01-12-2018
• Subjects: LC-MS/MS; Lipidomics; Oxylipids; Plasma; Stability; Storage; LC-MS/MS; Oxylipids; Plasma; Lipidomics; Storage; Stability
• ISSN: 1388-1981; 1879-2618
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bbalip.2018.10.003

Metabolomics and lipidomics are of fundamental importance to personalized healthcare. Particularly the analysis of bioactive lipids is of relevance to a better understanding of various diseases. Within clinical routines, blood derived samples are widely used for diagnostic and research purposes. Hence, standardized and validated procedures for blood collection and storage are mandatory, in order to guarantee sample integrity and relevant study outcomes. We here investigated different plasma storage conditions and their effect on plasma fatty acid and oxylipid levels. Our data clearly indicate the importance of storage conditions for plasma lipidomic analysis. Storage at very low temperature (−80 °C) and the addition of methanol directly after sampling are the most important measures to avoid ex vivo synthesis of oxylipids. Furthermore, we identified critical analytes being affected under certain storage conditions. Finally, we carried out chiral analysis and found possible residual enzymatic activity to be one of the contributors to the ex vivo formation of oxylipids even at −20 °C.
•Assessment of anticoagulant and storage conditions for clinical oxylipid analysis•One year storage study comparing different protocols and additives•Methanol precipitation had the biggest influence on results.•Butylated hydroxytoluene did not prevent the formation of artificial oxylipids.