Exploring the human urine metabolomic potentialities by comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled to time of flight mass spectrometry

• Published in: Journal of Chromatography A Vol. 1252; pp. 155 - 163
• Main Authors: Rocha, Sílvia M., Caldeira, Michael, Carrola, Joana, Santos, Magda, Cruz, Nádia, Duarte, Iola F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 24.08.2012
• Subjects: Adult; adults; alcohols; aldehydes; alkanes; amides; amines; carboxylic acids; clinical trials; Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography; esters; ethers; Female; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry - methods; halides; headspace analysis; heterocyclic compounds; Humans; ketones; lung neoplasms; Male; mass spectrometry; metabolites; Metabolome; Metabolomics; Metabolomics - methods; Middle Aged; Multivariate Analysis; nitriles; Organic Chemicals - chemistry; Organic Chemicals - classification; Organic Chemicals - urine; oxidative stress; prognosis; Solid phase microextraction; Solid Phase Microextraction - methods; Structurally ordered chromatograms; sulfides; terpenoids; thiols; Time of flight mass spectrometry; Urinalysis - methods; Urine; volatile compounds; Solid phase microextraction; Urine; Metabolomics; Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography; Time of flight mass spectrometry; Structurally ordered chromatograms
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2012.06.067
• ISSN: 0021-9673

► HS-SPME/GC×GC-ToFMS was developed for urine metabolite profiling. ► Hundreds of compounds were detected by the developed methodology. ► Relevant SPME and GC×GC parameters were considered. ► Structured GC×GC chromatogram were exploited to simplify the in-depth characterization of urine. Metabolomics represents an emerging issue that can aid in the diagnosis and/or prognosis of different diseases. Metabolomic study of urine is particularly interesting as it can be on the base of the developing of new faster and non-invasive methodologies. In response to this actual trend, comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography-time of flight mass spectrometry (GC×GC-ToFMS) combined with headspace solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME) is applied, for the first time to our knowledge, to the untargeted and comprehensive study of the volatile composition of human urine. From a total of ca. 700 compounds detected per sample, 294 were tentatively identified and distributed over the chemical families of hydrocarbons, amines, amides, esters, ketones, aldehydes, alcohols, carboxylic acids, ethers, nitriles, halides, sulfides, thiols, terpenoids, and heterocyclic compounds. To our knowledge, this is the most complete information available so far about whole human urine volatile composition, which represents a valuable data for future advanced studies in the clinical field based on urine fingerprinting. Relevant SPME and GC×GC parameters were considered. Complex sample characterization of human urine is significantly simplified due to the structured GC×GC chromatogram that produces distinct spaces for metabolite chemical families. Furthermore, the potential of this methodology in health related applications was explored by comparing the urinary volatile profiles between smoker (high-risk population for lung cancer) vs. non-smoker adults, focusing on metabolites related to oxidative stress (aliphatic alkanes and aldehydes). In spite of the small sample numbers considered, the results suggest that the urinary volatile profiles may be useful for differentiating subjects with different physiological conditions, thus making it worth to further explore its diagnostic potential.