Reino Laatikainen

A multi-metabolite analysis of serum by 1H NMR spectroscopy: early systemic signs of Alzheimer's disease.

A three-molecular-window approach for (1)H NMR spectroscopy of serum is presented to obtain specific molecular data on lipoproteins, various low-molecular-weight metabolites, and individual lipid molecules together with their degree of (poly)(un)saturation. The multiple data were analysed with self-organising maps, illustrating the strength of the approach as a holistic metabonomics framework in solely data-driven metabolic phenotyping. We studied 180 serum samples of which 30% were related to mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a neuropsychological diagnosis with severely increased risk for Alzheimers disease (AD). The results underline the association between MCI and the metabolic syndrome (MetS). Additionally, the low relativeamount of omega-3 fatty acids appears more indicative of MCI than low serum omega-3 or polyunsaturated fatty acid concentration as such. The analyses also feature the role of elevated glycoproteins in the risk for AD, supporting the view that coexistence of inflammation and the MetS forms a high risk condition for cognitive decline.

High-throughput quantification of circulating metabolites improves prediction of subclinical atherosclerosis

AIMS High-throughput metabolite quantification holds promise for cardiovascular risk assessment. Here, we evaluated whether metabolite quantification by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) improves prediction of subclinical atherosclerosis in comparison to conventional lipid testing. METHODS AND RESULTS Circulating lipids, lipoprotein subclasses, and small molecules were assayed by NMR for 1595 individuals aged 24-39 years from the population-based Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study. Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), a marker of subclinical atherosclerosis, was measured in 2001 and 2007. Baseline conventional risk factors and systemic metabolites were used to predict 6-year incidence of high IMT (≥ 90 th percentile) or plaque. The best prediction of high intima-media thickness was achieved when total and HDL cholesterol were replaced by NMR-determined LDL cholesterol and medium HDL, docosahexaenoic acid, and tyrosine in prediction models with risk factors from the Framingham risk score. The extended prediction model improved risk stratification beyond established risk factors alone; area under the receiver operating characteristic curve 0.764 vs. 0.737, P =0.02, and net reclassification index 17.6%, P =0.0008. Higher docosahexaenoic acid levels were associated with decreased risk for incident high IMT (odds ratio: 0.74; 95% confidence interval: 0.67-0.98; P = 0.007). Tyrosine (1.33; 1.10-1.60; P = 0.003) and glutamine (1.38; 1.13-1.68; P = 0.001) levels were associated with 6-year incident high IMT independent of lipid measures. Furthermore, these amino acids were cross-sectionally associated with carotid IMT and the presence of angiographically ascertained coronary artery disease in independent populations. CONCLUSION High-throughput metabolite quantification, with new systemic biomarkers, improved risk stratification for subclinical atherosclerosis in comparison to conventional lipids and could potentially be useful for early cardiovascular risk assessment.

Does mercury promote lipid peroxidation? An in vitro study concerning mercury, copper, and iron in peroxidation of low-density lipoprotein.

In order to explore the observed association among mercury, atherosclerosis, and coronary heart disease, the effects of mercury, copper, and iron on the peroxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and on the enzymatic activities of glutathione peroxidase and myeloperoxidase were investigated in vitro. On the basis of our nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments, we conclude that mercury does not promote the direct nonenzymatic peroxidation of LDL, like copper and iron. In our enzyme measurements, mercury inhibited slightly myeloperoxidase, although not significantly in presence of LDL. Instead, inorganic mercury, but not methylmercury chloride, inhibited glutathione peroxidase effectively and copper event at 10 μmol/L, below physiological concentrations, doubled the inhibition rate. Copper and iron had no direct effect on glutathione peroxidase, but they both seem to activate production of HOCl by myeloperoxidase. We conclude here that, first, mercury and methylmercury do not promote direct lipid peroxidation, but that, second, a simultaneous exposure to high inorganic mercury, copper, and iron and low selenium concentrations can lead to a condition in which mercury promotes lipid peroxidations. This mechanism provides a plausible molecular-level explanation for the observed association between high body mercury content and atherosclerosis.

About the mutagenicity of chlorine-substituted furanones and halopropenals. A QSAR study using molecular orbital indices

Electron affinities, frontier molecular orbital energies and electron densities at individual carbon atoms were calculated for 11 chlorofuranones including the strong mutagen 3-chloro-4-(dichloromethyl)-5-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone (MX) and for 5 halopropenals by semi-empirical AM1 and ab initio STO-3G methods. Significant correlations were found between Ames TA100 mutagenicity and the following AM1 electronic parameters of chlorofuranones: electron affinity (r = 0.9556). LUMO energy (r = 0.9332) and frontier electron density of LUMO at the alpha-carbon (r = 0.8882). In halopropenals only LUMO electron density at the beta-carbon correlates well with mutagenicity. The observed correlations suggest a reaction mechanism in which chlorofuranones and halopropenals act as electron acceptors in the interaction with DNA.

Automated analysis of NMR spectra

Abstract An algorithm for automated analysis of high-resolution NMR spectra is described. The full procedure consists of three steps: (i) the rough adjustment of spectral parameters on the basis of integral transforms, (ii) the automatic assignment of lines and the iteration of the spectral parameters on the basis of the line frequencies with reassignment of the lines between iteration cycles, and (iii) the refinement of the spectral parameters taking the overlap of signals into account. A strategy for very accurate determination of spectral parameters is discussed.

Metabolic diversity of progressive kidney disease in 325 patients with type 1 diabetes (the FinnDiane Study).

Type 1 diabetic patients with varying severity of kidney disease were investigated to create multimetabolite models of the disease process. Urinary albumin excretion rate was measured for 3358 patients with type 1 diabetes. Prospective records were available for 1051 patients, of whom 163 showed progression of albuminuria (8.3-year follow-up), and 162 were selected as stable controls. At baseline, serum lipids, lipoprotein subclasses, and low-molecular weight metabolites were quantified by NMR spectroscopy (325 samples). The data were analyzed by the self-organizing map. In cross-sectional analyses, patients with no complications had low serum lipids, less inflammation, and better glycemic control, whereas patients with advanced kidney disease had high serum cystatin-C and sphingomyelin. These phenotype extremes shared low unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs) and phospholipids. Prospectively, progressive albuminuria was associated with high UFAs, phospholipids, and IDL and LDL lipids. Progression at longer duration was associated with high HDL lipids, whereas earlier progression was associated with poor glycemic control, increased saturated fatty acids (SFAs), and inflammation. Diabetic kidney disease consists of diverse metabolic phenotypes: UFAs, phospholipids, IDL, and LDL may be important in the subclinical phase, high SFAs and low HDL suggest accelerated progression, and the sphingolipid pathway in advanced kidney injury deserves further research.

NMR and UPLC-qTOF-MS/MS characterisation of novel phenylethanol derivatives of phenylpropanoid glucosides from the leaves of strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa cv. Jonsok)

INTRODUCTION Strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa) is rich in polyphenols, particularly anthocyanins, flavonols, condensed tannins and ellagic tannins. In addition to the fruits, the leaves of strawberry also contain a wide range of phenolic compound classes, but have not been investigated to the same extent as the fruit. OBJECTIVE To characterise a metabolite group present in the leaves of strawberry, that was not amenable for identification based on earlier information available in the literature. METHODOLOGY Methanolic extracts of strawberry leaves were analysed by UPLC-qTOF-MS/MS and iterative quantum mechanical NMR spectral analysis. RESULTS The structures of phenylethanol derivatives of phenylpropanoid glucosides Eutigoside A ( F4) and its two isomeric forms 2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl-[6-O-(Z)-coumaroyl]-beta-D-glucopyranoside (F6) and 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)phenyl-[6-O-(E)-coumaroyl]-beta-D-glucopyranoside (F1) were resolved by NMR and UPLC-qTOF-MS/MS. In addition, two other derivatives of phenylpropanoid glucosides similar to Eutigoside A but possessing different phenolic acid moieties, namely Grayanoside A ( F5) and 2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl-[6-O-(E)-caffeoyl]-beta-D-glucopyranoside (F14), were similarly identified. Also, accurate characteristic coupling constants for the subunits are reported and their usefulness in structural analysis is highlighted. CONCLUSION Chemical analysis of the leaves of strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa cv. Jonsok) resulted in the identification of a compound class, phenylethanol derivatives of phenylpropanoid glycosides, not previously found in strawberry.

Synthesis and evaluation of estrogen agonism of diaryl 4,5-dihydroisoxazoles, 3-hydroxyketones, 3-methoxyketones, and 1,3-diketones: a compound set forming a 4D molecular library.

In this paper, the preparation and systematic evaluation of estrogen receptor alpha (ER alpha) and estrogen receptor beta (ER beta) activities of some diaryl-1,3-diones and their synthetic intermediates, diaryl-4,5-dihydroisoxazoles, diaryl-3-hydroxyketones, diaryl-3-methoxyketones, and diaryl-2-(dimethyl-lambda 4-sulfanylidene)-1,3-diones, is described. The set of 72 compounds constitutes a general schematic structure aryl1-linker1-spacer-linker2-aryl2, where the linker1-spacer-linker2 length varies between 4 and 8 carbons. The set of compounds was applied here to map and explore the active sites of subtypes ER alpha and ER beta. The highest activities were obtained with dihydroisoxazole and hydroxyketone spacers, but even the most flexible diones with unsubstituted aryl groups showed some agonism. Most compounds were found to be ER alpha selective or to activate both receptors, but in some cases we saw also clearly stronger ER beta activation.

Structural and electronic properties of MX compounds related to TA100 mutagenicity. A semi-empirical molecular orbital QSAR study.

The structural and electronic properties of chlorofuranones including MX and its anhydride were calculated using the semi-empirical AM1 method to elucidate the key features related to the strong mutagenic activity of MX. Significant correlations were found between Ames TA100 mutagenicity and the following electronic parameters of chlorofuranones: LUMO energy (r = 0.9607, n = 17), electron affinity (r = 0.9557), LUMO electron density at the alpha-carbon (r = 0.8855) and partial charge of the alpha-carbon (r = 0.8812). Based on these results, a molecular orbital QSAR model for the mutagenic activity of 17 MX analogues is presented. The controversial role of the open-chain tautomers of MX compounds, chlorinated butenoic acids, is discussed briefly.

From proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectra to pH. Assessment of 1H NMR pH indicator compound set for deuterium oxide solutions.

In this study, a protocol for pH determination from D(2)O samples using (1)H NMR pH indicator compounds was developed and assessed by exploring the pH-dependency of 13 compounds giving pH-dependent (1)H NMR signals. The indicators cover the pH range from pH(*) 0 to 7.2. Equations to transform the indicator chemical shifts to pH estimates are given here for acetic acid, formic acid, chloroacetic acid, dichloroacetic acid, creatine, creatinine, glycine, histidine, 1,2,4-triazole, and TSP (2,2,3,3-tetradeutero-3-(trimethylsilyl)-propionic acid). To characterize the method in presence of typical solutes, the effects of common metabolites, albumin and ionic strength were also evaluated. For the ionic strengths, the effects were also modelled. The experiments showed that the use of pH sensitive (1)H NMR chemical shifts allows the pH determination of typical metabolite solutions with accuracy of 0.01-0.05 pH units. Also, when the ionic strength is known with accuracy better than 0.1 mol dm(-3) and the solute concentrations are low, pH(nmr)(*) (the NMR estimate of pH) can be assumed to be within 0.05 pH units from potentiometrically determined pH.