Abstract
Prostaglandins (PGs), thromboxanes (TXs) and leukotrienes (LTs), named eicosanoids, are derived from polyunsaturated fatty acids such as arachidonic and eicosapentaenoic acids. Eicosanoids have various physiological actions, and they are closely associated with various pathological conditions. Quantitative analysis of eicosanoids production, therefore, may be useful as an index of pathological states and medical therapeutic effects. Quantitative methods require high sensitivity and selectivity because of the low concentration, short half-life time of their active compounds and coexistence of structurally similar interfering compouds. From this view point, gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) is one of the useful techniques for determination of eicosanoids. Using GC MS, we have developed determination methods for various eicosanoids and applied them to clinical studies. Although GC/MS is highly sensitive and selective, it often requires tedious and time-consuming derivatization and purification procedures. Liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS), on the other hand, is a simple and rapid determination method. LC/MS is sufficiently applicable to determination of prostanoids, and we previously established a new determination method for LTE4. In the present paper, I describe an advanced determination method for 11-dehydro TXB2, a stable urinary metabolite of TXA2, using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS-MS).
