High performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry quantification of tryptophan metabolites in human serum and stool – Application to clinical cohorts in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

• DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2022.463602
• Publication Date: 2022-11-03T17:31:34Z
• Authors: Aurore Desmons; Lydie Humbert; Thibaut Eguether; Pranvera Krasniqi; Dominique Rainteau; Tarek Mahdi; Nathalie Kapel; Antonin Lamazière
• Keywords: Xanthurenic acid; Kynurenic acid; Kynurenine pathway; Picolinic acid; Metabolic pathway

Tryptophan, an essential amino acid, and its metabolites are involved in many physiological processes including neuronal functions, immune system, gut homeostasis. Alterations to tryptophan metabolism associated with various pathologies such as neurologic, psychiatric disorders, inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), metabolic cancer. It is consequently critical develop a reliable, quantitative method for the analysis of downstream from kynurenine, serotonin, indoles pathways. An LC-MS/MS was designed 20 metabolites, without derivatization performed single run. This validated both serum stool. The comparisons between plasma, collected several differing anticoagulants, showed significant differences only serotonin. References values were established sera stools healthy donors. For stool samples, proof concept, developed applied control group IBD patient group. Results concentrations tryptophan, xanthurenic kynurenic indole-3-lactic picolinic acid. allowed extensive three pathways two compartments. Beyond application patients, clinical use this wide-ranging may be other pathological conditions involving metabolism, neurological, psychiatric, or auto-inflammatory pathologies.