Analysis of sphingolipids in extracted human plasma using liquid chromatography electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

We have developed an analytical method used to quantify sphingolipids, including deoxysphingoid bases, in lipid extracts prepared from human plasma. In total, 39 analytes were identified and analyzed in a single chromatographic run in less than 5 min. The new method is 4–8 times faster and more sensitive than previously published methods. We also describe a simple sample preparation method that allows medium-throughput screening of human plasma samples. Mass spectrometric analyses were performed online using liquid chromatography electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC–ESI–MS/MS) in the positive multiple reaction monitoring mode. Samples were extracted using a one-phase extraction method (methanol-dichloromethane) with appropriate internal standards. Sphingolipid analytes were linear over a wide range of concentrations, from 0.01 to 50 ng/ml, with a high correlation coefficient (r2 = 0.999). We successfully applied this method to analyze the levels of sphingolipid metabolites in healthy human plasma. The ceramide, dihydroceramide, hexosylceramide, and GM3 levels observed in females were slightly higher than those observed in males.