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Targeted proteomics for the indirect detection of dexamethasone treatment in bovines

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Abstract

The illegal use of pharmacologically active compounds for growth promotion in food-producing species poses risks for consumer health and animal welfare. Surveillance relies on the quantification of drug residues in animal fluids or tissues, but the efficacy can be negatively affected due to undetectable residual concentrations in biological matrices. Consequently, techniques focusing on the indirect biological effects of exogenous compound administration have been proposed as more sensitive detection methods. The purpose of the present study is to develop a tandem mass spectrometry analytical method based on low-energy collision-induced dissociation (CID-MS/MS) using multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) for the quantification of 12 potential protein markers of skeletal muscle to detect anabolic treatments with dexamethasone. Protein markers identified in a previous study applying a 2D-DIGE proteomics approach have been quantified using the signature peptide method. A group of proteins were confirmed as reliable markers. Quantitative results enabled a predictive model to be defined based on logistic regression for the detection of treated animals. The developed model was finally cross-validated in an independent animal set.

Analytical workflow used for the quantification of indirect protein markers of dexamethasone treatment

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by grants from the Regione del Veneto “Nuovi approcci genomici e proteomici per lo screening dei trattamenti con promotori di crescita nel bovino da carne” (D.G.R. n. 2862 of 28.12.2012, project no. C28C13000080001) and from the Italian Ministry of Health (RF-IZPLV-2006-364645). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed. No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Viale dell’Università 10, 35020, Legnaro, Italy

    Roberto Stella, Roberto Angeletti & Giancarlo Biancotto

  2. Department of Public Health and Risk Analysis, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Viale dell’Università 10, 35020, Legnaro, Italy

    Federica Barrucci

  3. Department of Immunotechnology, Lund University, Medicon Village, 223 81, Lund, Sweden

    Peter James

  4. BTK Turku Centre for Biotechnology, Tykistokatu 6, 20520, Turku, Finland

    Peter James

  5. Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, Padova University, Viale dell’Università 16, 35020, Legnaro, Italy

    Clara Montesissa

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  1. Roberto Stella
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  6. Giancarlo Biancotto
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Correspondence to Roberto Stella.

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The animals involved in this study were managed in agreement with the European Directive 86/609/EEC regarding the protection of animals used for experimental or other scientific purposes.

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Stella, R., Barrucci, F., Angeletti, R. et al. Targeted proteomics for the indirect detection of dexamethasone treatment in bovines. Anal Bioanal Chem 408, 8343–8353 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-016-9951-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-016-9951-8

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