Quantification of Glycosaminoglycans in Urine by Isotope Dilution Liquid Chromatography-Electrospray Ionization Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Abstract

Mucopolysaccharidoses (MPSs) are complex lysosomal diseases that result in the accumulation of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) in urine, blood, and tissues. Lysosomal enzymes responsible for GAG degradation are defective in MPSs. GAGs including chondroitin sulfate (CS), dermatan sulfate (DS), heparan sulfate (HS), and keratan sulfate (KS) are biomarkers for MPSs. This article describes a stable isotope dilution-tandem mass spectrometric method for quantifying CS, DS, and HS in urine samples. The GAGs are methanolyzed to uronic/iduronic acid-N-acetylhexosamine or uronic/iduronic acid-N-glucosamine dimers and mixed with internal standards derived from deuteriomethanolysis of GAG standards. Specific dimers derived from HS, DS, and CS are separated by ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) and analyzed by electrospray ionization (ESI) tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) using selected reaction monitoring for each targeted GAG product and its corresponding internal standard. This UPLC-MS/MS GAG assay is useful for identifying patients with MPS types I, II, III, VI, and VII. © 2025 Wiley Periodicals LLC.

Basic Protocol: Urinary GAG analysis by ESI-MS/MS

Support Protocol 1: Prepare calibration samples

Support Protocol 2: Preparation of stable-isotope-labeled internal standards

Support Protocol 3: Preparation of quality controls for GAG analysis in urine

Support Protocol 4: Optimization of methanolysis time

Support Protocol 5: Measurement of methanolic HCl concentration

Support Protocol 6: Preparation of working methanolic HCl solution (1.1 M)

Support Protocol 7: Dilution of prepared urine sample