Pitfalls in measuring the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoyl glycerol in biological samples

Vogeser, Michael and Schelling, Gustav (2007): Pitfalls in measuring the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoyl glycerol in biological samples. In: Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Vol. 45, No. 8: pp. 1023-1025

Abstract

Background: The endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoyl glycerol (2-AG) undergoes spontaneous isomerization to biologically inactive 1-AG. This effect has not been adequately addressed in previous studies that reported 2-AG concentrations in biological samples. Methods: Liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was used for 1-AG and 2-AG analyses. Results: Identical collision-induced disintegration spectra were found for 1-AG and 2-AG. For specific detection of both compounds, which share a common mass transition, baseline chromatographic separation is mandatory, even when applying MS/MS technology with its generally high detection specificity. When using standard chromatographic conditions with the very short run times typically used in LC-MS/ MS methods, co-elution of 2-AG with 1-AG, which is present in human serum, causes false 2-AG results. Conclusions: Our data highlight that the analytical specificity of MS/MS can be limited by interference from isobaric isomers with identical disintegration patterns. The specificity of this technology must be carefully evaluated for each individual application.

• Item Type: Journal article
• Form of publication: Publisher's Version
• Faculties: Medicine
• Subjects: 600 Technology > 610 Medicine and health
• ISSN: 1434-6621
• Alliance/National Licence: This publication is with permission of the rights owner freely accessible due to an Alliance licence and a national licence (funded by the DFG, German Research Foundation) respectively.
• Language: English