Blood plasma sample preparation method for the assessment of thyroid hormone-disrupting potency in effect-directed analysis

Environ Sci Technol. 2011 Sep 15;45(18):7936-44. doi: 10.1021/es2016389. Epub 2011 Aug 26.

Abstract

A sample preparation method combining solid-phase extraction (SPE) and liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) was developed to be used in Effect-Directed Analysis (EDA) of blood plasma. Until now such a method was not available. It can be used for extraction of a broad range of thyroid hormone (TH)-disruptors from plasma with high recoveries. Validation of the method using spiked cow plasma showed good recoveries for hydroxylated polybrominated diphenyl ethers (OH-PBDEs; 93.8 ± 19.5%), hydroxylated polychlorinated biphenyls (OH-PCBs; 93.8 ± 15.5%), other halogenated phenols (OHPs; 107 ± 8.1%), and for short-chain (<8 C-atoms) perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs; 85.2 ± 24.6%). In the same extracts, the potency of the compound classes spiked to the cow plasma to competitively bind to transthyretin (TTR) was recovered by 84.9 ± 8.8%. Furthermore, the SPE-LLE method efficiently removed endogenous THs from the extracts, thereby eliminating their possible contribution to the binding assay response. The SPE-LLE method was applied to polar bear plasma samples to investigate its applicability in future EDA studies focusing on TH-disrupting compounds in this top predator species that is exposed to relatively high levels of bioaccumulating pollutants. A first screening revealed TTR-binding potency in the polar bear plasma extracts, which could be explained for 60-85% by the presence of OH-PCBs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Validation Study

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Binding, Competitive
  • Cattle / blood
  • Endocrine Disruptors / analysis
  • Endocrine Disruptors / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Fluorocarbons / analysis
  • Fluorocarbons / metabolism
  • Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers / analysis
  • Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers / metabolism
  • Phenols / analysis
  • Phenols / metabolism
  • Plasma / chemistry*
  • Polychlorinated Biphenyls / analysis
  • Polychlorinated Biphenyls / metabolism
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Solid Phase Extraction
  • Thyroxine / metabolism
  • Thyroxine-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Ursidae / blood

Substances

  • Endocrine Disruptors
  • Fluorocarbons
  • Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers
  • Phenols
  • Thyroxine-Binding Proteins
  • Polychlorinated Biphenyls
  • Thyroxine