Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry analysis of lysophospholipids inhuman ascitic fluids: Comparison of the lysophospholipid contents in malignant vs nonmalignant ascitic fluids

Lysophospholipids (lyso-PLs), including various glycerol-based and sphingos ine-based lysophospholipids, play important roles in many biochemical, phys iological, and pathological processes. The classical methods to analyze the se Lipids involve gas chromatography and/or high-performance liquid chromat ography, which are time-consuming, cumbersome, and sometimes inaccurate due to the incomplete separation of closely related lipid species. We now desc ribe the quantitative analysis of lyso-PLs in ascites samples from patients with ovarian cancer using electrospray ionization spectrometry. Three new classes of lyso-PL molecules are detected: nUrvl-LPA, alkenyl-LPA, and meth ylated lysophosphatidylethanolamine. Importantly, the following lysophospho lipid species are significantly increased in ascites from patients with ova rian cancer, compared to patients with nonmalignant diseases (e.g., Liver f ailure): LPA (including acyl-, Alkyl-, and alkenyl-LPA species), lysophosph atidylinositol, and sphingosylphosphorylcholine. Lysophosphorylcholine cont ents are also significantly different among ascitic fluids from the two gro ups of patients. However, the total phosphate content in ascites samples fr om patients with ovarian cancer is not significantly different compared to that from patients with nonmalignant disease. (C) 2001 Academic Press.