A single-injection targeted metabolomics profiling method for determination of biomarkers to reflect tripterygium glycosides efficacy and toxicity

Metabolomics is a powerful tool for studying physiological state of the system. In this study, we proposed a single-injection targeted metabolomics method to identify reliable tripterygium glycosides efficacy and toxicity related biomarkers based on ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS). Through careful optimization of the UHPLC-MS/MS conditions, a total of 289 metabolites can be quantified in single-injection of 27 min using both positive and negative scanning modes with rapid polarity switching. Tripterygium glycosides is widely used in clinical for its excellent anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive functions. However, it is the most common drug that can cause hepatotoxicity. In this study, the established metabolomics method was used for determination of biomarkers to reflect tripterygium glycosides efficacy and toxicity. Two different dosages were designed in the animal experiment, including therapeutic dosage and toxic dosage. Statistical analysis based on metabolite concentrations showed that the glutathione metabolism and pyrimidine metabolism were the obvious interfering pathways. This was highly consistent with previous studies. A total of 22 and 47 metabolites were screened as potential biomarkers related to the efficacy and hepatotoxicity of tripterygium glycosides, respectively. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis showed that ten metabolites, including cytosine, 5-methyluridine, deoxyuridine, 5-methylcytidine, deoxycytidine triphosphate (DCTP), keto-glutarate, d-ribose, dihydrofolate, nordeoxycholic acid and isodeoxycholic acid possessed area under the curve (AUC) of 1. The metabolites filtered here can better distinguish tripterygium glycosides treated rats from the control rats compared with the traditional blood indicators of liver function. [Display omitted] •A single-injection targeted metabolomics method was developed based on UHPLC-MS/MS.•Cytosine and dihydrofolate were biomarkers of tripterygium glycosides efficacy.•DCTP and other 8 metabolites were biomarkers of tripterygium glycosides toxicity.•Biomarkers found here were more sensitive than traditional liver function indexes.