Quantification of Plasma Oxylipins Using Solid-Phase Extraction and Reversed-Phase Liquid Chromatography-Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometry.

Chen, Guan-Yuan; Zhang, Qibin

Oxylipins are an important class of bioactive lipids derived from polyunsaturated fatty acids. They can be both pro- and anti-inflammatory and function as important mediators in various pathological conditions. However, comprehensive analysis of oxylipins still remains a challenge because of their low abundance in plasma and the dominance of structurally similar isomeric species. Herein, we describe a simple and rapid method to comprehensively analyze oxylipins in blood plasma, which utilizes solid-phase extraction in 96-well format for efficient sample cleanup. Separation and detection of more than 130 oxylipins is accomplished by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry with multiple reaction monitoring in negative-ion mode. The absolute concentrations of oxylipins in human plasma are determined using the calibration curves constructed from internal standards. Detailed methods and precautions are presented for a successful adoption of this method in analytical laboratory.