Results from the initial phase of the Ceramide Ring Trial have been published, marking an important milestone in the area of lipidomics. This development signifies a remarkable step forward in defining reference values for ceramides, which are plasma lipids linked to cardiovascular conditions.
The first phase results of the Ceramide Ring Trial have been released in the journal Nature Communications, indicating a crucial turning point in lipidomics. Conducted by researchers from the University of Vienna alongside scientific teams from Singapore, Julich, and Espoo, this work represents a pivotal advance in establishing ceramide reference values, which are essential in understanding plasma lipids involved in cardiovascular diseases. The trial was organized under the auspices of the International Lipidomics Society (ILS).
Lipidomics, which focuses on the extensive examination of lipid pathways and networks in biological systems, seeks to uncover how lipids function in health and disease by scrutinizing their structures, roles, and interactions within cells. Grasping the upper and lower concentration limits of lipids is vital for advancing scientific knowledge and implementing technology in lipidomics. Consequently, the Ceramide Ring Trial was launched as an initial measure to tackle technical replication across a global network of laboratories.
A long-term evaluation…
A ring trial involves multiple laboratories analyzing the same samples independently, using either similar or varied methodologies, to compare outcomes. This approach assesses measurement reliability and consistency, enhancing standardization and quality control in scientific testing. After seven years of collaborative work, results from 34 laboratories across 19 countries have been compiled in the Ceramide Ring Trial study. Focusing strictly on human plasma/serum, the trial aimed to examine the concentration levels and variability of four specific ceramide lipid types. Ceramides play a role in various diseases and are linked as biomarkers in cardiovascular health. Trial participants employed their preferred analytical methods or a standardized protocol to measure ceramides in NIST1950 (a reference material of metabolites in human plasma provided by the National Institutes of Standards and Technology, NIST) and three other NIST pooled plasma reference materials, using specialized mixtures of ceramide standards from Avanti Polar Lipids.
…with promising outcomes
“Numerous valuable insights can be gleaned from our interlaboratory comparison results,” states Robert Ahrends from the Department of Analytical Chemistry at the University of Vienna and corresponding author of the study: 1) Standardization is crucial to minimize variations in testing procedures and achieve consensus in the concentrations of the target analytes. 2) The determination of mean absolute concentration levels of ceramides establishes a foundation for future biological and medical research tied to ceramide-related diseases. 3) The study’s comparison of mixed plasma samples provides estimates of biological variations among healthy individuals, those with high cholesterol, and diverse ethnic groups. “This study, the largest and most focused public inter-laboratory and cross-platform ring trial for specific ceramides in human plasma, establishes a new standard for future harmonization of lipidomics research and more. We deeply appreciate and congratulate all participants involved in this groundbreaking initiative,” Ahrends adds.
For additional details, please visit the International Lipidomics Society website: https://lipidomicssociety.org/
