Application of Human Plasma Targeted Lipidomics and Analysis of Toxic Elements to Capture the Metabolic Complexities of Hypothyroidism
Anna Błażewicz,
Michał Kiełbus,
Katarzyna Skórzyńska-Dziduszko,
Andreas M. Grabrucker,
Jacqueline Jonklaas,
Piotr Sosnowski,
Alicja Trzpil,
Anna Kozub-Pędrak,
Agnieszka Szmagara,
Julia Wojnicka,
Ewelina Grywalska,
Agostinho Almeida
Affiliations
Anna Błażewicz
Department of Pathobiochemistry and Interdisciplinary Applications of Ion Chromatography, Chair of Biomedical Sciences, Medical University of Lublin, 1 Chodźki Street, 20-093 Lublin, Poland
Michał Kiełbus
Department of Experimental Hematooncology, Medical University of Lublin, Chodzki 1, 20-093 Lublin, Poland
Katarzyna Skórzyńska-Dziduszko
Department of Human Physiology, Medical University of Lublin, Radziwillowska 11 Str., 20-080 Lublin, Poland
Andreas M. Grabrucker
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Limerick, V94 T9PX Limerick, Ireland
Jacqueline Jonklaas
Division of Endocrinology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20007, USA
Piotr Sosnowski
Department of Bioanalytics, Medical University of Lublin, ul. Jaczewskiego 8b, 20-090 Lublin, Poland
Alicja Trzpil
Department of Bioanalytics, Medical University of Lublin, ul. Jaczewskiego 8b, 20-090 Lublin, Poland
Anna Kozub-Pędrak
Department of Bioanalytics, Medical University of Lublin, ul. Jaczewskiego 8b, 20-090 Lublin, Poland
Agnieszka Szmagara
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Biological Sciences, The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Konstantynow 1J, 20-708 Lublin, Poland
Julia Wojnicka
Department of Pathobiochemistry and Interdisciplinary Applications of Ion Chromatography, Chair of Biomedical Sciences, Medical University of Lublin, 1 Chodźki Street, 20-093 Lublin, Poland
Ewelina Grywalska
Department of Experimental Immunology, Medical University of Lublin, Chodźki 4a St., 20-093 Lublin, Poland
Agostinho Almeida
Associated Laboratory for Green Chemistry (LAQV) of the Network of Chemistry and Technology (REQUIMTE), Department of Chemical Sciences, Laboratory of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, 50-313 Porto, Portugal
Background: Hypothyroidism (HT) affects millions worldwide and can lead to various lipid disorders. The metabolic complexity and the influence of toxic elements in autoimmune and non-autoimmune HT subtypes are not fully understood. This study aimed to investigate the relationships between plasma lipidome, toxic elements, and clinical classifications of HT in unexposed individuals. Methods: Samples were collected from 120 adults assigned to a study group with Hashimoto’s disease and non-autoimmune HT, and a healthy control group. Quantification of 145 pre-defined lipids was performed by using triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry (TQ MS/MS) in multiple reactions monitoring (MRM) mode via positive electrospray ionization (ESI). Levels of toxic elements were determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Results: Significant associations between altered levels of several components of the plasma lipidome and Al, Cd, Ni, As, and Pb with HT were found. We show metabolic differences in lysophosphatidylcholines (LPC) and phosphatidylcholines (PC) between HT and controls, with distinct predicted activation patterns for lysolecithin acyltransferase and phospholipase A2. Conclusions: There are significant changes in the lipidome profiles of healthy subjects compared to euthyroid HT patients treated with L-thyroxine, which are related to the type of hypothyroidism and non-occupational exposure to toxic elements.
