Wagner-Golbs Antje, Neuber Sebastian, Kamlage Beate, Christiansen Nicole, Bethan Bianca, Rennefahrt Ulrike, Schatz Philipp, Lind Lars
Metanomics Health GmbH, Tegeler Weg 33, 10589 Berlin, Germany.
Biocrates Life Sciences AG, Eduard-Bodem-Gasse 8, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
Metabolites. 2019 May 17;9(5):99. doi: 10.3390/metabo9050099.
High-quality biological samples are required for the favorable outcome of research studies, and valid data sets are crucial for successful biomarker identification. Prolonged storage of biospecimens may have an artificial effect on compound levels. In order to investigate the potential effects of long-term storage on the metabolome, human ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) plasma samples stored for up to 16 years were analyzed by gas and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry-based metabolomics. Only 2% of 231 tested plasma metabolites were altered in the first seven years of storage. However, upon longer storage periods of up to 16 years and more time differences of few years significantly affected up to 26% of the investigated metabolites when analyzed within subject age groups. Ontology classes that were most affected included complex lipids, fatty acids, energy metabolism molecules, and amino acids. In conclusion, the human plasma metabolome is adequately stable to long-term storage at -80 °C for up to seven years but significant changes occur upon longer storage. However, other biospecimens may display different sensitivities to long-term storage. Therefore, in retrospective studies on EDTA plasma samples, analysis is best performed within the first seven years of storage.
高质量的生物样本是研究取得良好结果所必需的，而有效的数据集对于成功鉴定生物标志物至关重要。生物样本的长期储存可能会对化合物水平产生人为影响。为了研究长期储存对代谢组的潜在影响，采用基于气相色谱和液相色谱-串联质谱的代谢组学方法，对储存长达16年的人乙二胺四乙酸（EDTA）血浆样本进行了分析。在储存的前七年中，231种测试血浆代谢物中只有2%发生了变化。然而，在长达16年的更长储存期内，当在受试者年龄组内进行分析时，几年的时间差异显著影响了高达26%的被研究代谢物。受影响最大的本体类别包括复合脂质、脂肪酸、能量代谢分子和氨基酸。总之，人血浆代谢组在-80°C下长期储存长达七年时具有足够的稳定性，但储存时间更长时会发生显著变化。然而，其他生物样本可能对长期储存表现出不同的敏感性。因此，在对EDTA血浆样本进行回顾性研究时，最好在储存的前七年之内进行分析。
