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Validation of a Metallomics Analysis of Placenta Tissue by Inductively-Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry

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Abstract

Trace elements can play an important role in maternal health and fetal development, and deficiencies in some essential minerals including zinc and copper have been correlated in some individuals to the development of birth defects and adverse health outcomes later in life. The exact etiology of conditions like preeclampsia and the effects of fetal exposure to toxic metals has not been determined, making the assessment of trace element levels crucial to the elucidation of the causes of conditions like preeclampsia. Previous studies analyzing serum and placenta tissue have produced conflicting findings, suggesting the need for a robust, validated sample preparation and analysis method for the determination of trace elements in placenta. In this report, an acid digestion method and analysis by ICP-MS for a broad metallomics/mineralomics panel of trace elements is developed and validated over three experimental days for inter- and intraday precision and accuracy, linear range, matrix impact, and dilution verification. Spike recovery experiments were performed for the essential elements chromium (Cr), iron (Fe), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn), and the toxic elements arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb) at levels equal to and in excess of native concentrations in control placenta tissue. The validated method will be essential for the development of scientific studies of maternal health and toxic metal exposure effects in childhood.

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Abbreviations

ICP-MS:

Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry

NIST:

National Institute of Standards and Technology

ELOQ:

Estimated limit of quantitation

LOD:

Limit of detection

KED:

Kinetic energy discrimination

SF-ICP-MS:

Sector field inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

IUGR:

Intra-uterine growth restriction

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Acknowledgments

This project was supported by the NIH Eastern Regional Metabolomics Resource Core (NIH Common Fund Grant 1U24DK097193; PI Susan Sumner), and the NIH Clinical and Translational Sciences Award (NCATS Grant UL1TR00111; PI Marshall Runge). The authors would also like to acknowledge R.K.M. Jayanty, Distinguished RTI Fellow, for his support and mentorship during the development of this manuscript.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no competing interest.

Ethical Statement

This manuscript does not contain samples that were obtained from clinical studies, and no personally identifiable patient data is included. Sample collection procedures followed the Helsinki Declaration guidelines regarding informed consent of human volunteers.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Trace Inorganics Department, Technologies for Industry and the Environment, RTI International, Durham, NC, 27709, USA

    James M. Harrington, Daniel J. Young, Frank X. Weber & Keith E. Levine

  2. Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA

    Rebecca C. Fry

  3. Discovery Science Technology, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA

    Susan S. Sumner

Authors
  1. James M. Harrington
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  2. Daniel J. Young
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  3. Rebecca C. Fry
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  4. Frank X. Weber
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  6. Keith E. Levine
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Keith E. Levine.

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Harrington, J.M., Young, D.J., Fry, R.C. et al. Validation of a Metallomics Analysis of Placenta Tissue by Inductively-Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry. Biol Trace Elem Res 169, 164–173 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-015-0431-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-015-0431-3

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