Characterization of the Structural Diversity and Structure-Specific Behavior of Oxidized Phospholipids by LC-MS/MS

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), esterified to phospholipids, are susceptible to oxidation. They form oxidized phospholipids (OxPLs) by oxygenases or reactive oxygen species (ROS), or both. These OxPLs are associated with various diseases, such as atherosclerosis, pulmonary injuries, neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, and diabetes. Since many types of OxPLs seem to be generated in vivo, precise determination of their structural diversity is required to understand their potential structure-specific functions. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) is a powerful method to quantitatively measure the structural diversity of OxPLs present in biological samples. This review outlines recent advances in analytical methods for OxPLs and their physiological relevance in health and diseases.