Supernatant Samples Research Articles

At-line NIR spectroscopy as effective PAT monitoring technique in Mab cultivations during process development and manufacturing

The application of at-line NIR transmittance spectroscopy on supernatant samples from Chinese Hamster Ovary Cells (CHO) based monoclonal antibody (Mab) cultivation processes spanning several scales from 2.5L to 1000L, cell-lines and development years is described. The collected and preprocessed spectra were used to do process state estimation and to obtain several culture parameters. Multivariate process trajectories were computed from NIR spectra acquired at-line. These were used to enhance process understanding across different scales up to industrial scale, assess batch-to-batch variability, and examine the relative importance of different sources of process variability. Many parameters of interest in industrial cell culture, like nutrient or product concentrations can be reliably estimated by NIRS with an accuracy of 15% or better, compared to reference methods General calibrations (scale and cell-line independent) are valid across a range of process conditions and different feed regimes. The proposed approach is therefore applicable throughout process development as well as to existing large-scale validated CHO bioprocesses for continuous improvement.

Discrimination of agonist and antagonist forms of CXCL10 in biological samples

The ready access to commercially available multiplex assays and the importance of inflammation in disease pathogenesis has resulted in an abundance of studies aimed at identifying surrogate biomarkers for different clinically important questions. Establishing a link between a biomarker and disease pathogenesis, however, is quite complex, and in some instances this complexity is compounded by post-translational modifications and the use of immunoassays that do not always discriminate between the different forms of the same protein. Herein, we provide a detailed description of an assay system that has been established to discriminate the agonist form of CXCL10 from the NH(2) -terminal truncated form of the molecule generated by dipeptidylpeptidase IV (DPP4) cleavage. We demonstrate the utility of this assay system for monitoring agonist and antagonist forms of CXCL10 in culture supernatant, patient plasma and urine samples. Given the important role of CXCL10 in chronic inflammatory diseases and its suggested role as a predictive marker in managing patients with chronic hepatitis C, asthma, atopic dermatitis, transplantation, tuberculosis, kidney injury, cancer and other diseases, we believe that our method will be of general interest to the research and medical community.

Proteomic Analysis of Human Saliva From Lung Cancer Patients Using Two-Dimensional Difference Gel Electrophoresis and Mass Spectrometry

Lung cancer is often asymptomatic or causes only nonspecific symptoms in its early stages. Early detection represents one of the most promising approaches to reduce the growing lung cancer burden. Human saliva is an attractive diagnostic fluid because its collection is less invasive than that of tissue or blood. Profiling of proteins in saliva over the course of disease progression could reveal potential biomarkers indicative of oral or systematic diseases, which may be used extensively in future medical diagnostics. There were 72 subjects enrolled in this study for saliva sample collection according to the approved protocol. Two-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis combined with MS was the platform for salivary proteome separation, quantification, and identification from two pooled samples. Candidate proteomic biomarkers were verified and prevalidated by using immunoassay methods. There were 16 candidate protein biomarkers discovered by two-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis and MS. Three proteins were further verified in the discovery sample set, prevalidation sample set, and lung cancer cell lines. The discriminatory power of these candidate biomarkers in lung cancer patients and healthy control subjects can reach 88.5% sensitivity and 92.3% specificity with AUC = 0.90. This preliminary data report demonstrates that proteomic biomarkers are present in human saliva when people develop lung cancer. The discriminatory power of these candidate biomarkers indicate that a simple saliva test might be established for lung cancer clinical screening and detection.

Abstract C6: Composite profiling of angiogenic factors using Bio-Plex Pro™ Human Cancer Biomarker Panel-I.

Abstract Angiogenesis is a feature of over 50 different disease states. These include cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and psoriasis. Methods developed to study these diseases are important tool to establish a model for testing potential therapeutics. These methods include both in vivo and in vitro assays. In vivo angiogenesis assays are considered to be the most informative because of the complex nature of vascular responses to test reagents and responses that no in vitro model can achieve. However in vivo assays can be expensive, laborious and require extensive training to perform. In contrast, in vitro assays can be carried out expeditiously, less costly and easier to interpret. Often, these in vitro assays provide maximum benefit when developed as a multivariate index assay where the data of multiple assays function to yield a composite result to interpret experimental studies. Using the Luminex xMAP technology, we have developed a multiplex Bio-Plex Pro™ Human Cancer Biomarker Panel I that employs a magnetic bead-based workflow to measure angiogenesis biomarkers in diverse matrices including serum, plasma, cell culture supernatant and many other sample types. In combination with the Bio-Plex® suspension array and the Bio-Plex Pro™ wash station, the multiplexing feature makes it possible to quantify the level of multiple angiogenesis targets in a single well of a 96-well microplate in just 3 hours, using as little as 12.5 μL of serum or plasma. The panel of 16 markers includes sEGFR, FGF basic, Follistatin, G-CSF, sHER2/neu, HGF, sIL-6Ra, Osteopontin, Leptin, PDGF-BB, PECAM-1, Prolactin, SCF, sTie-2, sVEGFR-1 and sVEGFR-2. These markers were selected because of their direct relevance to the pathogenesis of tumor-associated angiogenesis. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference: Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2011 Nov 12-16; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2011;10(11 Suppl):Abstract nr C6.

Screening biomarkers in bone marrow supernatant of multiple myeloma by 2-DE and MALDI-TOF-MS

Objective To analyze the differentially expressed proteins in bone marrow supernatants of multiple myeloma patients by using 2-DE and MALDI-TOF-MS,and search for the special protein markers for studying the mechanism of the development and diagnosis or differential diagnosis of multiple myeloma.Methods The bone marrow supernatant samples of fourteen multiple myeloma patients,five other hematologic malignancies and five normal controls were collected.After removing albumin and IgG,the proteins in the supernatants were separated by 2-DE.Three groups images were analyzed and compared by Imagemnster 2D platinum 5.0 analysis software.Differentially expressed proteins were selected if the protein spots intensity showed more than 3 fold increase or decrease among different groups.The identities of the differentially expressed proteins with good repeatibility were determined by PMF based on by MALDI-TOF-MS or MALDI-TOF-MS/MS and NCBInr database search.Results 2-DE maps of bone marrow supernatants of the three groups could be analyzed and compared by image analysis of software.Forty-seven and fifty-eight differentially expressed protein spots were detected in multiple myeloma samples compared with normal controls and other hematologic malignancies samples,respectively.Forty-one reproducible spots were analyzed and identified by mass spectrum.Compared with other hematologic malignancies and normal controls,five up-expressed proteins and three down-expressed proteins were identified in multiple myeloma samples.They includes immunoglobulin J chain κ and λ light chain,provirus ancestral Gag polyprotein,mature oxy-cope catalytic antibody with hapten for up-expressed proteins,and hemoglobin,haptoglobin Hp2,zinc-alPha-2-glycoprotein for down-expressed proteins.These differentially expressed proteins reflect the features of muhiple myeloma,and relate to the development,progression and therapy of multiple myeloma.Conclusions Eight differentially expressed proteins in bone marrow supernatants of multiple myeloma are identified by using 2-DE and MALDI-TOF-MS.These differentially expressed proteins could be useful in studying the mechanism of the development and progression of multiple myeloma,and in developing diagnosis and differential diagnosis of multiple myeloma. Key words: Multiple myeloma; Electrophoresis, gel, two-dimensional; Spectrometry, mass,matrix-assisted laser desorption-ionization; Biological markers

Comparative metabolite analysis to understand lactate metabolism shift in Chinese hamster ovary cell culture process

A metabolic shift from lactate production (LP) to net lactate consumption (LC) phenotype was observed in certain Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell lines during the implementation of a new chemically defined medium (CDM) formulation for antibody production. In addition, this metabolic shift typically leads to process performance improvements in cell growth, productivity, process robustness, and scalability. In our previous studies, a correlation between a key media component, copper, and this lactate metabolism shift was observed. To further investigate this phenomenon, two complementary studies were conducted. In the first study, a single cell line was cultivated in two media that only differed in their copper concentrations, yet were known to generate an LP or LC phenotype with that cell line. In the second study, two different cell lines, which were known to possess inherently different lactate metabolic characteristics, were cultivated in the same medium with a high level of copper; one cell line produced lactate throughout the duration of the culture, and the other consumed lactate after an initial period of LP. Cell pellet and supernatant samples from both studies were collected at regular time intervals, and their metabolite profiles were investigated. The primary finding from the metabolic analysis was that the cells in LP conditions exhibited a less efficient energy metabolism, with glucose primarily being converted into pyruvate, sorbitol, lactate, and other glycolytic intermediates. This decrease in energy efficiency may be due to an inability of pyruvate and acetyl-CoA to progress into the TCA cycle. The lack of progression into the TCA cycle or overflow metabolism in the LP phenotype resulted in the inadequate supply of ATP for the cells. As a consequence, the glycolysis pathway remained the major source of ATP, which in turn, resulted in continuous LP throughout the culture. In addition, the accumulation of free fatty acids was observed; this was thought to be a result of phospholipid catabolism that was being used to supplement the energy produced through glycolysis in order to meet the needs of LP cells. A thorough review of the metabolic profiles indicated that the lactate metabolic shift could be related to the oxidative metabolic capacity of cells.

Response of peripheral blood mononuclear cells to conditioned medium from cultured oral squamous cell carcinomas

The current study investigated the capacity for tumor factors secreted by head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cell lines, KB, KB16, and HEP, to induce the secretion of various cytokines from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). PBMCs were isolated from blood samples collected from six healthy volunteers and these cells were incubated for 6, 24, 48, or 72 hours in the presence of 50% conditioned medium collected from cultured cell lines pretreated with, or without, stimulants such as phytohemagglutinin (PHA) or lipopolysaccharides (LPS). Aliquots of each supernatant were then assayed for levels of IFN-Γ, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), TNF-α, and IL-4 using enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). Data collected were analyzed using Student's t-test, an ANOVA test followed by Tukey's test, and tests of Pearson's Correlation. PBMCs cultured with KB16-conditioned medium produced the highest levels of IFN-Γ. VEGF was also detected in conditioned media collected from all of the squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) cell lines used, and a significant difference in VEGF levels between control and KB- or KB16-conditioned media was observed. TNF-α was secreted by all PBMC groups within 6 hours of receiving conditioned media, and these levels increased up to the 24 hour timepoint, after which levels of TNF-α stabilized. In contrast, none of the supernatant samples contained detectable levels of IL-4. In combination, these data suggest that direct contact between fresh human PBMCs and conditioned media from tumor cells induces the secretion of TNF-α and VEGF by PBMCs, and this represents an initial angiogenic response.

Curcumin Treatment Suppresses IKKβ Kinase Activity of Salivary Cells of Patients with Head and Neck Cancer: A Pilot Study

To determine whether curcumin would inhibit IκB kinase β (IKKβ) kinase activity and suppress expression of proinflammatory cytokines in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cancer (HNSCC) patients. Saliva was collected before and after subjects chewed curcumin tablets. Protein was extracted and IKKβ kinase activity measured. Interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 levels in the salivary supernatants were measured by ELISA. IL-6, IL-8, and other interleukin were also measured independently with ELISA to confirm the inhibitory effect of curcumin on expression and secretion of salivary cytokines. Curcumin treatment led to a reduction in IKKβ kinase activity in the salivary cells of HNSCC patients (P < 0.05). Treatment of UM-SCC1 cells with curcumin as well as with post-curcumin salivary supernatant showed a reduction of IKKβ kinase activity. Significant reduction of IL-8 levels (P < 0.05) was seen in post-curcumin samples from patients with dental caries. Although there was reduced IL-8 expression in 8 of 21 post-curcumin samples of HNSCC patients, the data did not reach statistical significance. Saliva samples from HNSCC patients were also analyzed in a blinded fashion for expression of cytokines. IL-10, IFN-γ, IL-12p70, and IL-2 clustered together, and granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor and TNF-α clustered together. Log₁₀ ratio analysis showed decrease in expression of all nine cytokines in both the salivary supernatant and salivary cells of curcumin-treated samples. Curcumin inhibited IKKβ kinase activity in the saliva of HNSCC patients, and this inhibition correlated with reduced expression of a number of cytokines. IKKβ kinase could be a useful biomarker for detecting the effect of curcumin in head and neck cancer.

Proof of Concept Study to Assess Fetal Gene Expression in Amniotic Fluid by NanoArray PCR

Microarray analysis of cell-free RNA in amniotic fluid (AF) supernatant has revealed differential fetal gene expression as a function of gestational age and karyotype. Once informative genes are identified, research moves to a more focused platform such as quantitative reverse transcriptase-PCR. Standardized NanoArray PCR (SNAP) is a recently developed gene profiling technology that enables the measurement of transcripts from samples containing reduced quantities or degraded nucleic acids. We used a previously developed SNAP gene panel as proof of concept to determine whether fetal functional gene expression could be ascertained from AF supernatant. RNA was extracted and converted to cDNA from 19 AF supernatant samples of euploid fetuses between 15 to 20 weeks of gestation, and transcript abundance of 21 genes was measured. Statistically significant differences in expression, as a function of advancing gestational age, were observed for 5 of 21 genes. ANXA5, GUSB, and PPIA showed decreasing gene expression over time, whereas CASC3 and ZNF264 showed increasing gene expression over time. Statistically significantly increased expression of MTOR and STAT2 was seen in female compared with male fetuses. This study demonstrates the feasibility of focused fetal gene expression analysis using SNAP technology. In the future, this technique could be optimized to examine specific genes instrumental in fetal organ system function, which could be a useful addition to prenatal care.

Development of a robust and sensitive LC–MS/MS method for the determination of adenine in plasma of different species and its application to in vivo studies

A simple, robust, and sensitive liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometric (LC–MS/MS) method was developed for the measurement of endogenous adenine in mouse, rat, cynomolgus monkey, and human plasma. A “surrogate analyte” strategy was adopted by employing [ 13C(U)]-adenine as the surrogate analyte. The plasma samples were processed by protein precipitation, and the extracted supernatant samples were subjected directly to LC–MS/MS analysis. The analysis was carried out in the negative ion detection mode using selected-reaction monitoring (SRM). The method achieved a lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) of 5.0 nM with a signal-to-noise ratio of 10. The intra- and inter-day assay coefficients of variation (CV) were ≤6.67% in rat plasma, and the mean recoveries and matrix effects across species and at various concentrations ranged from 88.8% to 104.2% and 86.0% to 110.8%, respectively. Using this methodology, the endogenous concentration of adenine in plasma of four species was found to range from 8.7 nM in human to 93.1 nM in cynomolgus monkey plasma. The assay was further applied to both an adenine pharmacokinetic study and a pivotal pharmacodynamic study evaluating the plasma concentration of adenine after a dose of 5′-deoxy-5′-methylthioadenosine (MTA).

Optimal Techniques for mRNA Extraction from Neonatal Salivary Supernatant

Background: Gene expression profiling of the salivary supernatant is emerging as a new and important source of real-time, systemic, biological information. However, existing technologies prevent RNA extraction of small quantities found in neonatal salivary supernatant. Objective: The aim of this study was to develop techniques to enhance extraction of cell-free RNA from neonatal salivary supernatant. Methods: Two saliva samples (10–100 µl) were serially collected from newborns (36–41 weeks’ gestation) (n = 13) and stabilized. Total RNA was extracted from salivary supernatant with the use of two modified extraction techniques: Qiagen RNAprotect® Saliva Mini Kit (method 1) and the QIAamp Viral RNA Mini Kit (method 2). Quantitative RT-PCR amplification for GAPDH was performed on extracted salivary samples. Statistical analyses were performed on mean threshold cycle (Ct) levels to compare RNA yield from each protocol. Paired microarray analyses were made between neonatal whole saliva and supernatant (n = 3) to discern gene expression differences between these biolayers. Results: mRNA was successfully extracted and amplified from all salivary supernatant samples. Extraction with method 2 yielded more RNA than with method 1 (p = 0.008). There was a 7.5% discordance between paired gene expression analyses for whole saliva and supernatant. Genes that were statistically significantly upregulated in supernatant highlighted 16 distinct biological functions not seen in whole saliva. Conversely, only two biological functions were unique to whole saliva. Conclusion: Neonatal cell-free salivary supernatant mRNA may be readily extracted and utilized on downstream applications. These technical enhancements allow for further exploration of the diagnostic potential of the neonatal salivary transcriptome.

Discrimination of grade 2 and 3 cervical intraepithelial neoplasia by means of analysis of water soluble proteins recovered from cervical biopsies

BackgroundCervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) grades 2 and 3 are usually grouped and treated in the same way as "high grade", in spite of their different risk to cancer progression and spontaneous regression rates. CIN2-3 is usually diagnosed in formaldehyde-fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) punch biopsies. This procedure virtually eliminates the availability of water-soluble proteins which could have diagnostic and prognostic value.AimTo investigate whether a water-soluble protein-saving biopsy processing method followed by a proteomic analysis of supernatant samples using LC-MS/MS (LTQ Orbitrap) can be used to distinguish between CIN2 and CIN3.MethodsFresh cervical punch biopsies from 20 women were incubated in RPMI1640 medium for 24 hours at 4°C for protein extraction and subsequently subjected to standard FFPE processing. P16 and Ki67-supported histologic consensus review CIN grade (CIN2, n = 10, CIN3, n = 10) was assessed by independent gynecological pathologists. The biopsy supernatants were depleted of 7 high abundance proteins prior to uni-dimensional LC-MS/MS analysis for protein identifications.ResultsThe age of the patients ranged from 25-40 years (median 29.7), and mean protein concentration was 0.81 mg/ml (range 0.55 - 1.14). After application of multistep identification criteria, 114 proteins were identified, including proteins like vimentin, actin, transthyretin, apolipoprotein A-1, Heat Shock protein beta 1, vitamin D binding protein and different cytokeratins. The identified proteins are annotated to metabolic processes (36%), signal transduction (27%), cell cycle processes (15%) and trafficking/transport (9%). Using binary logistic regression, Cytokeratin 2 was found to have the strongest independent discriminatory power resulting in 90% overall correct classification.Conclusions114 proteins were identified in supernatants from fresh cervical biopsies and many differed between CIN2 and 3. Cytokeratin 2 is the strongest discriminator with 90% overall correct classifications.

Seasonal and wastewater stream variation of trace organic compounds in a dairy processing plant aerobic bioreactor

Bioreactors are often an integral part of dairy factory efforts to reduce the biological oxygen demand of their wastewater. In this study, infeed, mixed liquor and supernatant samples of an aerobic bioreactor used by a dairy factory in South-Eastern Australia were analyzed for nutrients and organic compounds using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and physicochemical analyses. Despite different concentrations of organic inputs into the bioreactor, nutrients and trace organic compounds were reduced significantly (i.e. average concentration of trace organic compounds: infeed=1681μg/L; mixed liquor=257μg/L; supernatant=23μg/L). However, during one sampling period the bioreactor was adversely affected by the organic loading. Trace organic compounds in the samples were predominantly fatty acids associated with animal products. The analyses suggest that it is possible to trace a disruptive input (i.e. infeed with high organic carbon concentrations) into an aerobic bioreactor by measuring concentrations of fatty acids or ammonia.

Elevated IL-6 Receptor Expression on CD4+ T Cells contributes to the increased Th17 Responses in patients with Chronic Hepatitis B

BackgroundIncreased numbers of Interleukin-17-producing CD4+ T cells (Th17) have been found in association with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-induced liver injury. However, the mechanism underlying the increase of Th17 responses in patients with HBV infection remains unclear. In this study, we investigate the possible regulatory mechanisms of increased Th17 responses in patients with chronic hepatitis B(CHB).MethodsTh17 response and IL-6R expression on CD4+ T cells in peripheral blood samples were determined by flow cytometry. Cytokines TGF-β, IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-17 in plasma and/or supernatant samples were determined by ELISA and the IL-17 and IL-6R mRNA levels were quantified by quantitative real-time reverse polymerase chain reaction.ResultsAll these data indicated that the frequency of periphery Th17 cells is significantly correlated with the percentage of CD4+ T cells expressing IL-6R in CHB patients. CD4+ T cells from patients with CHB, but not those from healthy donors, produced higher levels of IL-17 and had more IL-6R expression upon stimulation with the HBV core antigen (HBcAg) in vitro. The PMA/ionomycin and HBcAg -stimulated up-regulation of IL-17 production by CD4+ T cells could be reversed by a neutralizing antibody against IL-6R.Conclusionwe showed that enhancement of IL-6R expression on CD4+ T cells upon HBV infection contributes to increased Th17 response in patients with CHB.

Flavivirus NS4A-induced Autophagy Protects Cells against Death and Enhances Virus Replication

Flaviviruses include the most prevalent and medically challenging viruses. Persistent infection with flaviviruses of epithelial cells and hepatocytes that do not undergo cell death is common. Here, we report that, in epithelial cells, up-regulation of autophagy following flavivirus infection markedly enhances virus replication and that one flavivirus gene, NS4A, uniquely determines the up-regulation of autophagy. Dengue-2 and Modoc (a murine flavivirus) kill primary murine macrophages but protect epithelial cells and fibroblasts against death provoked by several insults. The flavivirus-induced protection derives from the up-regulation of autophagy, as up-regulation of autophagy by starvation or inactivation of mammalian target of rapamycin also protects the cells against insult, whereas inhibition of autophagy via inactivation of PI3K nullifies the protection conferred by flavivirus. Inhibition of autophagy also limits replication of both Dengue-2 and Modoc virus in epithelial cells. Expression of flavivirus NS4A is sufficient to induce PI3K-dependent autophagy and to protect cells against death; expression of other viral genes, including NS2A and NS4B, fails to protect cells against several stressors. Flavivirus NS4A protein induces autophagy in epithelial cells and thus protects them from death during infection. As autophagy is vital to flavivirus replication in these cells, NS4A is therefore also identified as a critical determinant of flavivirus replication.

Near Infrared Spectroscopy As High-Throughput Technology for Screening of Xylose-Fermenting Recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae Strains

Recently, genetic engineering efforts have been made to develop recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains able to utilize xylose, an inexpensive and abundant carbon source. However, their construction and selection processes are limited by the speed and expenses of the existing testing methods, thus a rapid and equally precise method will significantly increase the number of tested strains. Here, near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy is proposed as a successful alternative method for screening recombinant xylose-fermenting S. cerevisiae. Supernatant samples of fermentation solutions from one diploid and three haploid recombinant strains were collected along the fermentation process. NIR spectra of the diluted supernatant provided effective differentiation of strains consistent with their phenotypic and genotypic features. This result could be used as a feedback for multicomponent analysis, in order to develop regression model for quantification of consumed glucose and xylose, produced ethanol, glycerol, and xylitol. Robust partial least-squares regression models with high prediction accuracy that are effective with any strain were achieved for all components when the modeling was performed with combined data of all strains, achieving 0.21-1.49 g/L of standard error of prediction with calibration, prediction, limit of detection and limit of quantification in the range of 1.0-4.5 and 3.0-13.4 g/L, respectively.

Upregulation of antithrombotic ectonucleotidases by aspirin in human endothelial cells in-vitro.

Ecto ATP-diphosphohydrolase (apyrase) activity of human endothelial cells following aspirin treatment has been studied in-vitro. It was shown by HPLC analysis of supernatant samples that pre-incubation of the cultures with aspirin resulted in a significantly increased turnover of supplemented ATP into its degradation products (ADP and AMP). Enhanced expression of ectoenzyme after aspirin treatment could be observed as demonstrated by immunofluorescence-staining with monoclonal anti-apyrase antibodies. This suggests enhancement of endothelial ATP-diphosphohydrolase activity induced by aspirin. The present data obtained in human vascular cells in-vitro are in line with results from previous animal studies in-vivo, suggesting a novel cyclooxygenase-independent antithrombotic activity of aspirin.

Comparison of extraction techniques for amniotic fluid supernatant demonstrates improved yield of cell‐free fetal RNA

Comparison of extraction techniques for amniotic fluid supernatant demonstrates improved yield of cell‐free fetal RNA

Simultaneous Quantification of Levetiracetam and Gabapentin in Plasma by Ultra-Pressure Liquid Chromatography Coupled with Tandem Mass Spectrometry Detection

Gabapentin (Neurontin) and levetiracetam (Keppra) are anticonvulsants with novel structures and suggested therapeutic ranges of 2-10 mg/L and 6-20 mg/L, respectively. Gabapentin is also used extensively to manage neuropathic pain, and for this indication, wherein higher doses are prescribed, plasma concentrations of 15-30 mg/L are typical. Here, we describe a simple rapid assay to support therapeutic drug monitoring of gabapentin and levetiracetam in plasma by ultra-pressure liquid chromatography couples to tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) detection. After the addition of internal standard and protein precipitation of patient plasma with methanol:acetonitrile in a 50:50 ratio, 1 μL of supernatant sample is injected onto an Acquity UPLC HSS T3, 1.8 μm, 2.1 × 50 mm (Waters) column. Elution occurs using a linear gradient of acetonitrile and water, each having 0.1% formic acid added. The column is eluted into a Waters Acquity UPLC TQD, operating in a positive mode to detect gabapentin at transition 172.18 > 154.11, levetiracetam at 171.11 > 126, and internal standard (3-amino-2-naphthoic acid) at 188.06 > 170. Secondary transitions for each analyte are also monitored for gabapentin at 172.18 > 137.06, levetiracetam at 171.11 > 154, and internal standard at 188.06 > 115. Runtime is 1.5 minutes per injection with baseline resolved chromatographic separation. The analytical measurement ranges were 1-150 mg/L for gabapentin and for levetiracetam. Intra-assay imprecision by the coefficient of variance (CV) was less than 8% and interassay CV was less than 5% for both analytes, at 4 different concentrations. Results obtained from patient samples were compared with results generated by established high-performance liquid chromatography-UV methods with the following regression statistics: y = 1.12x - 0.77, r = 0.996, Sy, x = 0.89, and n = 29 for gabapentin and y = 0.991x + 0.70, r = 0.997, Sy, x = 2.24, and n = 30 for levetiracetam. No analytical interferences were identified. : In summary, a simple reliable UPLC-MS/MS method was developed and validated for routine clinical monitoring of gabapentin and levetiracetam.

Discriminating between latent and active tuberculosis with multiple biomarker responses

We sought to identify biomarker responses to tuberculosis specific antigens which could 1) improve the diagnosis of tuberculosis infection and 2) allow the differentiation of active and latent infections. Seventy subjects with active tuberculosis (N = 12), latent tuberculosis (N = 32), or no evidence of tuberculosis infection (N = 26) were evaluated. We used the Luminex Multiplexed Bead Array platform to simultaneously evaluate 25 biomarkers in the supernatant of whole blood samples following overnight stimulation using the Quantiferon(®) Gold In-Tube kit. We defined the response to stimulation as the difference (within an individual patient) between the response to the pooled tuberculosis antigens and the negative control. IP-10 response was significantly higher in tuberculosis-infected (active or latent) subjects compared to the uninfected group (p < 0.0001). Among the 25 parameters, expression levels of IL-15 and MCP-1 were found to be significantly higher in the active tuberculosis group compared to the latent tuberculosis group (p = 0.0006 and 0.0030, respectively). When combined, IL-15 and MCP-1 accurately identified 83% of active and 88% of latent infections. The combination of IL-15 and MCP-1 responses was accurate in distinguishing persons with active tuberculosis from persons with latent tuberculosis in this study.