Proteomics tools reveal startlingly high amounts of oxytocin in plasma and serum

Ole Kristian Brandtzaeg, Elin Johnsen, Hanne Roberg-Larsen, Knut Fredrik Seip, Evan L. MacLean, Laurence R. Gesquiere, Siri Leknes, Elsa Lundanes, Steven Ray Wilson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

89 Scopus citations

Abstract

The neuropeptide oxytocin (OT) is associated with a plethora of social behaviors, and is a key topic at the intersection of psychology and biology. However, tools for measuring OT are still not fully developed. We describe a robust nano liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (nanoLC-MS) platform for measuring the total amount of OT in human plasma/serum. OT binds strongly to plasma proteins, but a reduction/alkylation (R/A) procedure breaks this bond, enabling ample detection of total OT. The method (R/A + robust nanoLC-MS) was used to determine total OT plasma/serum levels to startlingly high concentrations (high pg/mL-ng/mL). Similar results were obtained when combining R/A and ELISA. Compared to measuring free OT, measuring total OT can have advantages in e.g. biomarker studies.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number31693
JournalScientific reports
Volume6
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 16 2016

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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