Analytica 2024: The Latest Trends in Metabolomics and Lipidomics

Experts at Analytica in Munich, Germany, presented a two-part session focused on metabolomics and lipidomics, in order to better understand the science of cellular biology. The sessions were moderated by Anne Bendt associate director and scientific program manager at the Singapore Lipidomics Incubator (SLING), National University of Singapore and Guowang Xu, of the CAS Key Laboratory of Separation Science for Analytical Chemistry, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences in Dalian, China.

The first part of the session began with “Pre-Analytical and Analytical Challenges of Clinical Lipidomics in Immune-Mediated Diseases,” presented by Robert Gurke of Goethe-University Frankfurt in Germany. Gurke’s talk focused on the fundamental role of lipids in the immune system, and the significant promise the exploration of lipid profiles hold as potential biomarkers for early diagnosis, disease progression, and therapeutic guidance in IMDs. However, the field of lipidomics poses notable challenges that must be overcome to facilitate accurate analysis and interpretation of lipid data; these challenges were discussed as well.

That presentation was followed by Evelyn Ramper of the School of Chemistry at the University of Melbourne in Parkville, Victoria, Australia and her discussion, “Glycolipids in the Spotlight Using Novel High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry Assays.” High-resolution mass spectrometry is particularly useful in providing high mass accuracy and reducing hybrid spectra and false annotations of glycolipids. With the goal of obtaining the highest structural resolution, Ramper and her associates developed new HRMS-based strategies for complex glycolipid analysis, including field asymmetric ion mobility mass spectrometry (FAIMS) or alternative fragmentation strategies using multistage fragmentation (MSn), ultraviolet photodissociation mass spectrometry (UVPD), and electron-induced dissociation.

Consisting of experts from wet- and dry-lab to improve the entire workflow from sample preparation to data analysis, which in turn can then be deployed in different studies, the HUMAN Consortium’s goal is to integrate blood microsamples with targeted and non-targeted metabolomics based on LC-MS and to develop and optimize their use. Next, Michael Witting of Helmholtz Munich in Neuherberg, Germany, a representative of the consortium, presented “HUMAN- Harmonising and Unifying Blood Metabolomics Analysis Networks,” where the initial results from the consortium and their project partners for the optimization of sample preparation, analysis, and data analysis strategies were discussed.

The session concluded with “Mass Spectrometric Fingerprinting Approaches for Food Fraud Detection,” led by Marina Creydt of theHamburg School of Food Science (Germany). The first part of her lecture focused on the adulteration of various species of truffles, one of the most expensive foods in the world. Using mass spectrometry, several hundred signals were extracted that were present in the analyzed truffle species in significantly different concentrations. The second part dealt with the adulteration of oregano (Origanum vulgare and O. onites), one of the most frequently counterfeit spices, with marjoram (O. majorana). In addition to olive leaves, oregano is particularly mixed with marjoram leaves, so as to achieve a higher financial profit. Although many analytical methods have already been developed to verify the authenticity of oregano, only one marker compound (arbutin) is currently known that can be used to detect the addition of marjoram in oregano. Although mass spectrometric analysis in positive and negative ionization modes were able to detect around 3,000 features, only one marker compound proved to be suitable for detecting marjoram in oregano, even in small proportions.

The second part of the session began with the moderator Guowang Xu’s presentation, “New Methods for Metabolomics Analyses of Single Cells.” Xu and his colleagues have concentrated on the development of mass spectrometry (MS)-based single cells analysis techniques, including capillary microsampling combined with high-resolution spectral stitching nanoelectrospray ionization direct-infusion MS, laser capture microdissection-sample micromanipulation-MS, inertial microfluidics and pulsed electric field-induced ESI-MS, combined ESI-APCI-MS, and related data analysis. This presentation was an opportunity for Xu to report on his group’s recent advancements on the single cells-related metabolomics analysis techniques, and their applications in cell heterogeneity studies.

Thomas Hankemeier of the Leiden Academic Centre of Drug Research at Leiden University in The Netherlands discussed “Innovative Approaches for Single Cell Metabolomics.” To study different cell types in such a 3D co-culture, or to study cell heterogeneity, Hankemeier is of the belief that the analysis of individual single cells is required. His presentation covered the miniaturization of metabolomics for organ-on-chip models and the translation of epidemiological and clinical studies to organ-on-chip model systems. Single cell metabolomics were discussed for 2D and 3D model systems, as well as the live sampling of human disease models during experiments and the current challenges and innovations presented by existing analytical technologies.

Liebo Shu of Shanghai Liangliang Biotechnology Co Ltd (Shanghai, China) presented “Where Are They: Innovation and Application of Spatial Metabolomics Technology” at 1:30 pm. Mass spectrometry imaging (MSI)-based spatial metabolomics adds localization information on the basis of traditional metabolomics qualitative and quantitative analysis and has become a powerful tool for analyzing functions of biomolecules. Shu’s discussion showcased the technological progress of spatial metabolomics and its applications in medicine and pharmacy. Further, Shu and associates have established a standardized method for MSI of drug quantitative, which can accurately quantify the tissue distribution of drugs or exogenous substances, which was also discussed.

The session concluded for the afternoon with the 2 pm presentation “Unveiling Disease-Specific Metabolic Reprogramming through Innovative Metabolomics and Multi-omics,” led by Zeping Hu of the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Tsinghua University (Beijing, China). Dedicated to developing cutting-edge, ultra-sensitive, single-cell metabolomics technology, as well as artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted strategies for integrating multi-omics data, the goal of Hu and his colleagues is to characterize patterns of metabolic remodeling in diseases, explore their functions, and elucidate the underlying regulatory mechanisms. Hu discussed the successful development of high-sensitivity, broad-spectrum targeted metabolomics and metabolic flux analysis techniques, as well as AI-empowered multi-omics integration methods. These state-of-the-art advancements enable precise multidimensional omics analysis spanning from extremely small biological samples (such as 100-1000 cells) to large clinical sample cohorts.