Prandial ghrelin attenuation provides evidence that des-acyl ghrelin may be an artifact of sample handling in human plasma. (October 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Blatnik, Matthew; Soderstrom, Catherine I; Dysinger, Mark; Fraser, Stephanie A
• Is Part Of: Bioanalysis. Volume 4:Number 20(2012)
• Page Start: 2447
• Page End: 2455
• Publication Date: 2012-10
• Subjects: Drugs -- Analysis -- Periodicals; 615.19005
• DOI: 10.4155/bio.12.248
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1757-6180

Abstract

Background: Plasma acyl and des-acyl ghrelin are thought of as components of total ghrelin, but this has never been validated using ex vivo spiking experiments, human sample collection comparisons and fit-for-purpose translatable assays.Results: Acyl ghrelin plasma stability was analyzed by LC–MS/MS and it revealed that acyl ghrelin is enzymatically and chemically converted to des-acyl ghrelin in the presence of active serine proteases and HCl. ELISAs with less than 30% total error were used to assess acyl ghrelin behavior in matched authentic human samples. Acyl and total ghrelin were not statistically different in 4-(2-aminoethyl)benzenesulfonyl fluoride hydrochloride samples and acyl ghrelin losses in K2 EDTA plasma were accounted for in des-acyl ghrelin formation.Conclusion: Acyl ghrelin is total ghrelin and des-acyl ghrelin should not be detectible in healthy human plasma under optimal sample handling and assaying conditions.