Quantitative analysis of lipids: a higher-throughput LC–MS/MS-based method and its comparison to ELISA

Aim: Lipids such as prostaglandins, leukotrienes and thromboxanes are released as a result of an inflammatory episode in pain (central and peripheral). Methodology & results: To measure these lipids as potential mechanistic biomarkers in neuropathic pain models, we developed a higher-throughput LC–MS/MS-based method with simultaneous detection of PGE2, PGD2, PGF2α, LTB4, TXB2 and 2-arachidonoyl glycerol in brain and spinal cord tissues. We also demonstrate that the LC–MS/MS method was more sensitive and specific in differentiating PGE2 levels in CNS tissues compared with ELISA. Conclusion: The ability to modify the LC–MS/MS method to accommodate numerous other lipids in one analysis, demonstrates that the presented method offers a cost–effective and more sensitive alternative to ELISA method useful in drug discovery settings.