Rapidity and Precision of Steroid Hormone Measurement

Abstract

Steroids are present in all animals and plants, from mammals to prokaryotes. In the medical field, steroids are commonly classified as glucocorticoids, mineralocorticoids, and gonadal steroid hormones. Monitoring of hormones is useful in clinical and research fields for the assessment of physiological changes associated with aging, disease risk, and the diagnostic and therapeutic effects of various diseases. Since the discovery and isolation of steroid hormones, measurement methods for steroid hormones in biological samples have advanced substantially. Although immunoassays (IAs) are widely used in daily practice, mass spectrometry (MS)-based methods have been reported to be more specific. Steroid hormone measurement based on MS is desirable in clinical practice; however, there are several drawbacks, including the purchase and maintenance costs of the MS instrument and the need for specialized training of technicians. In this review, we discuss IA- and MS-based methods currently in use and briefly present the history of steroid hormone measurement. In addition, we describe recent advances in IA- and MS-based methods and future applications and considerations.

COVID-19 patients with altered steroid hormone levels are more likely to have higher disease severity

“…Steroid hormones are commonly classified as glucocorticoids, mineralocorticoids, and sex steroid hormones. Analyzing and monitoring these hormones provides useful information in terms of diagnosis, follow-up, and prognosis of diseases [ 10 ]. For this purpose, we analyzed sex steroids, glucocorticoids, and mineralocorticoids simultaneously with LC-MS/MS, a sensitive and specific method, in COVID-19 patients with different disease severity and healthy individuals.…”

Online In-Tube Solid-Phase Microextraction Coupled with Liquid Chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometry for Automated Analysis of Four Sulfated Steroid Metabolites in Saliva Samples

“…Steroid hormones include glucocorticoids, which regulate carbohydrate and lipid metabolism and have inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects; mineralocorticoids, which regulate blood pressure through ionic equilibrium in body fluids; and sex hormones, which control reproductive functions and secondary sexual characteristics [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]. Starting from cholesterol, all of these compounds are biosynthesized in the adrenal cortex, gonads, and brain by various enzymes, but their biosynthetic and metabolic pathways are complex, and the molecular roles of these compounds have not been fully determined [ 1 , 2 ]. After their biosynthesis, these steroid hormones are metabolized by Phase I reactions involving oxidation and reduction and Phase II reactions involving conjugation [ 1 , 3 ].…”

“…Sulfated steroid metabolites can be analyzed by immunoassays or by mass spectrometry coupled to chromatography. Immunoassays, however, are not suitable for simultaneous analysis of a series of steroids due to their cross-reactivity, difficulties distinguishing among steroids with similar structures, and the need to generate specific antibodies against each compound [ 2 , 3 , 10 , 13 ]. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) cannot directly detect conjugated metabolites and requires chemical or enzymatic cleavage of sulfate groups and volatile derivatization steps [ 1 , 2 , 6 , 13 , 14 , 15 ].…”

“…Immunoassays, however, are not suitable for simultaneous analysis of a series of steroids due to their cross-reactivity, difficulties distinguishing among steroids with similar structures, and the need to generate specific antibodies against each compound [ 2 , 3 , 10 , 13 ]. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) cannot directly detect conjugated metabolites and requires chemical or enzymatic cleavage of sulfate groups and volatile derivatization steps [ 1 , 2 , 6 , 13 , 14 , 15 ]. Chemical cleavage of sulfated steroid metabolites also results in the hydrolysis of other conjugates, and commercially available sulfatase enzymes, which enzymatically cleave these sulfated compounds, also possess glucuronidase activity, making it difficult to distinguish between steroid glucuronides and sulfated steroids [ 6 , 14 ].…”

“…Chemical cleavage of sulfated steroid metabolites also results in the hydrolysis of other conjugates, and commercially available sulfatase enzymes, which enzymatically cleave these sulfated compounds, also possess glucuronidase activity, making it difficult to distinguish between steroid glucuronides and sulfated steroids [ 6 , 14 ]. In contrast, liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS) and LC–tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) exhibit excellent ionization properties via electrospray ionization and do not require derivatization of compounds, and therefore the specific fragmentation patterns of these compounds allow selective and sensitive analysis by MS/MS [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 , 7 , 10 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 ].…”