Evaluation of: Ackermans MT, Kettelarij-Haas Y, Boelen A, Endert E. Determination of thyroid hormones and their metabolites in tissue using SPE UPLC-tandem MS. Biomed. Chromatogr. 26(4), 485-490 (2012). Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry is used in research laboratories as a gold standard for endocrine analytics. This technology provides a precise tool for the measurement of serum and tissue thyroid hormones (TH) and their deiodinated metabolites. The 'inactive pro-hormone' 3,3´,5,5´-tetraiodo-l-thyronine (T4) is synthesized in and secreted by the thyroid gland. Activation and inactivation of T4 in the brain, liver and other tissues is controlled by the iodothyronine deiodinases through the sequential removal of iodine atoms resulting in eight TH derivatives: tri- (T3, rT3), di- (3,5-T2, 3,3´-T2, 3´,5´-T2), monoiodothyronines (3-T1, 3´-T1) and the iodine-free l-thyronine (T0). This methodical article fits very well into the current line of research on analytics and local metabolism of TH.
Keywords: liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry; method validation; preanalytical sample work-up; thyroid hormone metabolism; thyroid hormones; tissue.