Here we show isolated human platelets can be used as an accessible ex vivo model to study metabolic adaptations in response to the complex I inhibitor rotenone. This approach employs isotopic tracing and relative quantification by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and can be applied to a variety of study designs.
Perturbed mitochondrial metabolism has received renewed interest as playing a causative role in a range of diseases. Probing alterations to metabolic pathways requires a model in which external factors can be well controlled, allowing for reproducible and meaningful results. Many studies employ transformed cellular models for these purposes; however, metabolic reprogramming that occurs in many cancer cell lines may introduce confounding variables. For this reason primary cells are desirable, though attaining adequate biomass for metabolic studies can be challenging. Here we show that human platelets can be utilized as a platform to carry out metabolic studies in combination with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis. This approach is amenable to relative quantification and isotopic labeling to probe the activity of specific metabolic pathways. Availability of platelets from individual donors or from blood banks makes this model system applicable to clinical studies and feasible to scale up. Here we utilize isolated platelets to confirm previously identified compensatory metabolic shifts in response to the complex I inhibitor rotenone. More specifically, a decrease in glycolysis is accompanied by an increase in fatty acid oxidation to maintain acetyl-CoA levels. Our results show that platelets can be used as an easily accessible and medically relevant model to probe the effects of xenobiotics on cellular metabolism.
Dysfunctional mitochondrial metabolism has been implicated in a wide range of diseases including neurodegeneration, cancer, and cardiovascular disease 30. As such, great effort has been placed on characterizing metabolic defects that contribute to disease pathogenesis. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) is considered the gold standard for quantification of analytes from complex biological matrices and is often employed for metabolic studies 8. However, as is often the case with biomedical studies, attaining an accessible and well-defined model relevant to human disease is a challenge.
Many studies employ transformed cellular models for probing the impact of xenobiotics or genetic abnormalities on cellular metabolism 7,9. The metabolic reprogramming that occurs in cancer cells can introduce confounding factors 21 and are therefore not ideal. These issues can be circumvented with primary cell models, although obtaining sufficient biomass for metabolic analyses can be challenging. Furthermore, the impact of high amounts of antibiotics used in culture has been highlighted as potentially confounding mitochondrial studies 16.
Human platelets afford the opportunity to utilize a primary cell model with sufficient mitochondrial content for metabolic studies 5,22,27,32. First, platelets can be easily acquired, through blood draws from individual donors, or in large volumes from blood banks, and therefore provide a model in which external factors can be readily controlled. Secondly, due to their small size, platelets can be easily isolated from other blood components with minimal preparatory work in even minimally equipped laboratories 5. Of note, platelets do not contain nuclei and can therefore be used to study alterations to metabolism independently of transcriptional regulation. Here we show that in addition to relative quantification of acyl-coenzyme A (CoA) thioesters, the isolated platelet system can be used to examine carbon metabolism. Specifically, we report the use of metabolic labeling with stable isotope (non-radioactive) labeled [13C6]-glucose and [13C16]-palmitate to probe incorporation of the [13C]-label into the important metabolite acetyl-CoA via glycolysis or fatty acid oxidation. This provides a powerful, generalizable, and versatile platform due to the extensive involvement of acyl-CoA species in biochemical pathways 13,24 and the tractability of this system to testing other variables, such as inhibition of complex I with rotenone 3,33. In addition to information provided in the Protocol below, an extensive description of the methods used for isotope labeling and for the LC-MS-based analyses can be found in Basu and Blair 4.
Ethics Statement: All protocols concerning the treatment of human samples follow the guidelines of The University of Pennsylvania's human research ethics committee.
1. Preparation of Buffers and 100x Stock Solutions
2. Platelet Isolation
Note: This method is amenable to platelets derived from either whole blood or from platelet bags. The example data contained herein was prepared using platelets derived from platelet bags. Please see Basu et al.5 for more details regarding using platelets isolated from whole blood.
3. Performing an Experiment
4. Quenching and CoA Extraction
5. HPLC Setup
6. Mass Spectrometer Setup
To demonstrate the utility of this methodology we have reproduced the generalizability of previously described compensatory metabolic adaptation resulting from exposure to rotenone. This finding was previously identified in cell culture models and this investigation was aimed to test if this metabolic shift also occurs in platelets, which are anuclear and not prone to the same experimental artifacts as cell culture. This work was performed with 6-day-old platelets from the Penn Trauma Center, which had been deemed too old for human infusion, although they retained their metabolic activity. The isolation was performed as shown in Figure 1. The total workflow can be scaled easily from a limited number of clinical samples or experimental conditions to 96-well plate based higher throughput with the availability of platelets that are no longer useful for infusion into patients.
Our group has previously reported changes in relative levels of acyl-CoA thioesters in response to rotenone in cell lines that are hypothesized to result from the inhibition of complex I (Figure 2). Specifically we have observed in SH-SY5Y cells a dose dependent decrease in succinyl-CoA (IC50 = 25 nM) with a simultaneous increase in β-hydroxybutyryl (HB)-CoA (ED50 = 75 nM), while acetyl-CoA levels were unchanged 1. Our analysis of human platelets treated with rotenone revealed highly consistent results (Figure 3). This provides a unique set of experimental data in human platelets pointing to the mitochondrial dependence of the response to rotenone. This response cannot be mediated through conventional transcriptional mechanisms because platelets lack nuclei.
Relative quantification provides one dimension of metabolic information, but isotopic labeling provides invaluable complementary insight into the activity of specific metabolic pathways. This is critical in metabolic studies because multiple pathways may converge through a single intermediate. To demonstrate this point, platelets were treated with either 100 nM rotenone or DMSO in the presence of either [13C6]-glucose or [13C16]-palmitate for 1 hr. Co-elution of isotopologues of acyl-CoAs from the LC column allows for definitive determination of isotopic composition of analytes (Figure 4). Following correction for the natural abundance of heavy isotopes as described 11 this approach showed a significant decrease in glycolytic production of acetyl-CoA in the platelets while palmitate incorporation was increased significantly (Figure 5). These findings are similar to those observed previously in the SH-SY5Y cell culture model 33 and so provide additional evidence that this pathway could be important in vivo.
Time (min) | 0 | 0 | 1.5 | 5 | 12 | 17 | 18 | 23 | 25 | 30 |
Total Flow (μl/min) | 200 | 200 | 200 | 200 | 200 | 250 | 200 | 200 | 200 | 200 |
% A | 98 | 98 | 98 | 80 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 98 | 98 |
% B | 2 | 2 | 2 | 20 | 100 | 100 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
% C | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100 | 100 | 0 | 0 |
Table 1. Liquid Chromatography Gradient. Solvent A: 5 mM Ammonium Acetate in Water, Solvent B: 5 mM Ammonium Acetate in 95:5 ACN/Water Solvent C: 80:20 ACN/Water 0.1% Formic Acid
Parameter | Value |
Spray Voltage (V) | 4,000 |
Vaporizer Temperature (°C) | 400 |
Sheath Gas Pressure | 35 |
Auxiliary Gas Pressure | 10 |
Capillary Temperature (°C) | 350 |
Tube Lens Offset (V) | 100 |
Table 2. Mass Spectrometer Parameters.
Figure 1. Generalized Workflow for Sample Preparation and Analysis. This schematic depicts the workflow for platelet isolation and treatment for metabolic studies by LC-MS/MS analysis. Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.
Figure 2. Metabolic Scheme of Glucose and Lipid Metabolism and the Electron Transport Chain. Acetyl-CoA can be synthesized from either glucose or palmitate. Rotenone inhibits the proper shuttling of electrons by mitochondrial complex I. Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.
Figure 3. Quantitation of CoA-thioesters in Response to Rotenone. Rotenone treatment does not affect acetyl-CoA levels but induces a dose-dependent decrease in succinyl-CoA (IC50 = 4.1 nM) with a concomitant increase in βHB-CoA (ED50 = 4.2 nM). Error bars represent standard error of the mean (SEM); n = 4. Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.
Figure 4. Representative Chromatograms Showing Isotopic Labeling from Palmitate into Acetyl-CoA. Rotenone treatment increases the incorporation of palmitate into acetyl-CoA. Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.
Figure 5. Relative Incorporation of [13C6]-glucose or [13C16]-palmitate into Acetyl-CoA. Rotenone treatment decreases glucose incorporation into acetyl-CoA and increases palmitate incorporation. Error bars represent SEM; n = 4. Asterisks denote p <0.05 (Student's unpaired t-test). Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.
Here we have shown the utility of isolated platelets as a platform for studying perturbed mitochondrial metabolism. Specifically, we have characterized metabolic adaptation in response to complex I inhibition by rotenone.
The present study has extended previously reported findings on the role of complex I inhibition by rotenone in cell lines to human platelets. Importantly, this has revealed that rotenone also inhibited platelet succinyl-CoA formation, stimulated an increase in platelet βHB-CoA and had no effect on platelet levels of acetyl-CoA.
Great care must be taken to ensure the validity and reproducibility of any analysis of this type. If platelets are to be isolated from whole blood, the isolation should proceed exactly as described above in order to prevent lymphocyte contamination and platelet activation, with special attention devoted to leaving the buffy coat containing the lymphocytes undisturbed. In order for dose response curves to be meaningful, serial dilutions must be performed precisely, with mixing to homogeneity at each step. After platelet resuspension, incubation conditions may be modified from those detailed above, but they must be rigorously standardized across treatment groups to allow for meaningful comparisons to be made. Perhaps the most important step in any quantitative LC/MS-based analysis is the use of stable-isotope labeled internal standards.
The use of internal standards is critical in this setting because it protects against potentially confounding "batch effects" such as variable extraction efficiencies and analyte stability across samples. Addition of the internal standard, (again, mixing to homogeneity) as early as possible in an experimental protocol reduces the potential for artifacts. Finally, as in any experiment, the use of multiple replicates for each experimental condition is essential, and if feasible, power calculations based on pilot experiments may be useful.
Platelets can be rapidly isolated from individual or pooled sources 5,27,32, making this approach amenable to a wide range of applications. It is important to note that the ability to perform studies involving both relative quantification and isotopic labeling allows for a more comprehensive characterization of a metabolic system. Currently, this demands two separate assays, which increases the demand for biomass required for the experiment. For this reason, platelets, which can be readily obtained in large numbers, are more efficient than other cell culture models.
However, despite the numerous advantages conferred by the use of platelets, there are drawbacks. First, care must be taken in the selection of human donors because there are many disorders that affect platelet physiology 25. In addition, platelet activation during the course of sample preparation and analysis is a potential confounding variable in any platelet-based assay. For these reasons, concomitant assessment of markers of platelet activation by ELISA 26, flow cytometry 1, or assays such as the light transmission aggregometry (LTA) assay 34 could prove prudent.
Although the present study has focused on the analysis of acyl-CoA thioesters, this approach can be readily expanded to include a wider range of analytes. Untargeted metabolomics approaches are providing mechanistic insight into an array of disease states 23. Applying such untargeted approaches to platelet models will likely provide additional insight into the underlying biochemical mechanisms involved in dysregulated cellular metabolism.
This approach can be readily expanded to include investigations of other environmental chemicals and drugs known to interfere with mitochondrial metabolism 6,12,18,31 as well as a system to test the effects of xenobiotics as potential modulators of CoA metabolism 10. In addition, the general approach can be employed to study metabolic defects in genetic diseases such as Friedreich's ataxia 5,32. Moreover, any of the aforementioned experimental designs could be coupled with a functional respiration assay in order to more robustly characterize the state of mitochondria in each context 2. Thus, coupling stable isotopes and LC-MS analysis with metabolic studies in isolated platelets is likely to afford novel opportunities to further characterize aberrant mitochondrial metabolism.
The authors have nothing to disclose.
We acknowledge the support of NIH grants P30ES013508 and T32ES019851.
Reagent | |||
Sodium Chloride (NaCl) | Sigma-Aldrich | 746398 | |
Sodium Bicarbonate (NaHCO3) | Sigma-Aldrich | S5761 | |
Calcium Chloride Dihydrate (CaCl2 * H2O) | Sigma-Aldrich | 223506 | |
Potassium Chloride (KCl) | Sigma-Aldrich | P9541 | |
Magnesium Chloride (MgCl2) | Sigma-Aldrich | 208337 | |
Glucose | Sigma-Aldrich | G8270 | |
13C6-Glucose | Sigma-Aldrich | 389374 | |
Palmitic acid | Cayman | 10006627 | |
13C16-Palmitic Acid | Sigma-Aldrich | 605573 | |
Rotenone | Sigma-Aldrich | R8875 | |
Trichloro Acetic Acid | Sigma-Aldrich | T6399 | |
5-Sulfosalicylic Acid | Sigma-Aldrich | 390275 | |
Acetonitirle | Fischer Scientific | A996-4 | (optima) |
Water (H2O) | Fischer Scientific | W7-4 | (optima) |
Formic acid | Fischer Scientific | 85171 | (optima) |
Dimethyl Sulfoxide | Sigma-Aldrich | 472301 | |
Ethanol | Fischer Scientific | 04-355-222 | |
Methanol | Fischer Scientific | A454-4 | (optima) |
Ammonium Acetate | Fischer Scientific | A639-500 | |
2 mL Eppendorf Tubes | BioExpress | C-3229-1 | |
LC vials (plastic) | Waters | 186002640 | |
10 mL Glass Centrifuge Tubes | Kimble Chase | 73785-10 | |
Oasis Solid Phase Extraxtion (SPE) Columns | Waters | WAT094225 | |
Pastuer Pipets | Fischer Scientific | 13-678-200 | |
Name | Company | Catalog Number | Comments |
Equipment | |||
CO2 Water-Jacketed Incubator | Nuaire | AutoFlow NU-8500 | |
Triple Quadropole Mass Spectrometer | Thermo Scientific | Finnigan TSQ Quantum | |
HPLC | Thermo Scientific | Dionex Ultimate 3000 | |
Source | Thermo Scientific | HESI II | |
HPLC Column | Phenomenex | Luna C18 | 3 μm particle size, 200 mm x 2 mm |