A sensitive quantification approach for detection of HETE-CP adduct after benzyl chloroformate derivatization using ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry

Sulfur mustard (HD) reacts with human serum albumin (HSA) at Cys 34 and produces a long-term biomarker of HD exposure. Here, we present a novel, sensitive, and convenient method for quantification of HD exposure by detection of HD-HSA adducts using pronase digestion, benzyl chloroformate (Cbz-Cl) derivatization, and ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS). The HSA in HD-exposed plasma in vitro was precipitated with acetone and digested (2 h, 50 °C) with pronase to form the alkylated dipeptide, S-hydroxyethylthioethyl-CysPro (HETE-CP). The HETE-CP adduct was derivatized with Cbz-Cl to generate N-carbobenzoxy HETE-CP (HETE-C(Cbz)P). The derivatized product was analyzed by UHPLC-MS/MS. HD surrogate, 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide (2-CEES), was introduced as a non-isotope internal standard (ISTD) instead of traditional d8 -HD for quantification. The method was found to be linear between 1.00 and 200 ng/mL HD exposure ( R 2 > 0.998) with precision of ≤ 9.0% relative standard deviation (RSD) and accuracy ranged between 97.1 and 111%. The limit of detection (LOD) is 0.500 ng/mL (S/N~5), over 15 times lower than that of the previous method (7.95 ng/mL). Time-consuming affinity purification or solid phase extraction (SPE) is not needed in the experiment and the operation takes less than 5 h. This study provides a new strategy and useful tool for retrospective analysis of HD exposure by HETE-CP biomarker detection. Graphical abstract Flow diagram for quantification of sulfur mustard exposure by detection of HETE-CP dipeptide adduct after benzyl chloroformate derivatization using ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.