Validation of a quantitative analysis method for tryptophan metabolites in asthmatic mice and bacteria using GC-MS/MS

  • J Pharm Biomed Anal. 2026 Sep 1:277:117511. doi: 10.1016/j.jpba.2026.117511.
Weichen Xu  1 ,  Mengqing Shang  1 ,  Zichen Luo  1 ,  Xinyu Ji  1 ,  Yiwen Shan  2 ,  Qingqing Chen  3 ,  Jinjun Shan  1 ,  Zhicheng Zhang  4
Affiliations
  • 1. Institute of Pediatrics, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Pediatric Respiratory Disease, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China; Medical Metabolomics Center, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
  • 2. Institute of Pediatrics, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Pediatric Respiratory Disease, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
  • 3. Nanjing Letop Biotechnology Co., Ltd, China.
  • 4. Department of Chinese Pharmacy, The People's Hospital of Yuhuan, China. Electronic address: [email protected].
PMID: 41990598 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2026.117511
Abstract

This study established a gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) method for the simultaneous quantification of 25 tryptophan (TRP) metabolites encompassing the kynurenine pathway, serotonin pathway, and indole pathway. The method was systematically validated in terms of precision and accuracy, demonstrating robust reliability. Application of this method to Bacterial cultures as well as serum and lung tissues from asthmatic mice revealed significant alterations in TRP metabolic profiles. Owing to its high throughput and sensitivity, this method is well suited for the analysis of TRP metabolites in complex biological matrices and provides a robust platform for comprehensive profiling of TRP metabolites in complex biological matrices, facilitating studies of TRP metabolism in asthma.

Keywords
Asthma; GC-MS/MS; Tryptophan metabolism.
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