Identification of short‐chain fatty acid esters of hydroxy fatty acids (SFAHFAs) in a murine model by nontargeted analysis using ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography/linear ion trap quadrupole‐Orbitrap mass spectrometry

Rationale Fatty acid esters of hydroxy fatty acids (FAHFAs) are recently discovered endogenous lipids with outstanding health benefits. FAHFAs are known to exhibit antioxidant, antidiabetic and anti‐inflammatory properties. The number of known long‐chain FAHFAs in mammalian tissues and dietary resources increased recently because of the latest developments in high‐resolution tandem mass spectrometry techniques. However, there are no reports on the identification of short‐chain fatty acid esterified hydroxy fatty acids (SFAHFAs). Methods Intestinal contents, tissues, and plasma of rats fed with high‐fat diet (HFD) and normal diet (ND) were analyzed for fatty acids, hydroxy fatty acids, and FAHFAs using ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) and linear trap quadrupole‐Orbitrap mass spectrometry (LTQ Orbitrap MS) with negative heated electrospray ionization. Results Untargeted analysis of total lipid extracts from murine samples (male 13‐week‐old WKAH/HKmSlc rats) led to the identification of several new SFAHFAs of acetic acid or propanoic acid esterified long‐chain (>C20)‐hydroxy fatty acids. Furthermore, MS3 analysis revealed the position of the hydroxyl group in the long‐chain fatty acid as C‐2. The relative amounts of SFAHFAs were quantified in intestinal contents and their tissues (Cecum, small intestine, and large intestine), liver, and plasma of rats fed with HFD and ND. The large intestine showed the highest abundance of SFAHFAs with a concentration range from 0.84 to 57 pmol/mg followed by the cecum with a range of 0.66 to 28.6 pmol/mg. The SFAHFAs were significantly altered between the HFD and ND groups, with a strong decreasing tendency under HFD conditions. Conclusions Identification of these novel SFAHFAs can contribute to a better understanding of the chemical and biological properties of individual SFAHFAs and their possible sources in the gut, which in turn helps us tackle the role of these lipids in various metabolic diseases.