Ring Trial on Quantitative Assessment of Bile Acids Reveals a Method- and Analyte-Specific Accuracy and Reproducibility

Abstract

(1) Background: Bile acids are a key mediator of the molecular microbiome-host interaction, and various mass spectrometry-based assays have been developed in the recent decade to quantify a wide range of bile acids. We compare existing methodologies to harmonize them. (2) Methods: Methodology for absolute quantification of bile acids from six laboratories in Europe were compared for the quantification of the primary bile acids cholic acid (CA) and chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) and conjugated products glycocholic acid (GCA) and taurocholic acid (TCA). For the bacterially modified secondary bile acids, the quantification of deoxycholic acid (DCA) and lithocholic acid (LCA) was compared. For the murine bile acids, we used the primary muricholic acids (α-MCA and, β-MCA) and the intestinally produced secondary bile acid muricholic (ω-MCA). The standards were spiked into methanol:water (1:1) mix as well as in human and murine serum at either low concentration range (150–3000 nM) or high concentration range (1500–40,000 nM). (3) Results: The precision was better for higher concentrations. Measurements for the hydrophobic unconjugated bile acids LCA and ω-MCA were the most challenging. (4) Conclusions: The quality assessments were generally very similar, and the comprehensive analyses demonstrated that data from chosen locations can be used for comparisons between studies.

GLP-2 Improves Hepatic Inflammation and Fibrosis in Mdr2 Mice Via Activation of NR4a1/Nur77 in Hepatic Stellate Cells and Intestinal FXR Signaling

“…Hepatic BA profiles were acquired using ultraperformance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry as described previously. 27 , 28 …”

Bile Acids in Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy

“…Postprandial assessment of BAs level was characterized by greater diagnostic sensitivity, while the determination of BAs in the fasting state was characterized by greater specificity [ 48 ]. Currently, due to greater diagnostic specificity, it is proposed to determine the level of BAs, both in pregnant and other patients, on an empty stomach [ 49 , 50 ].…”