This document discusses using metabolomics to identify biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Metabolomics analyzes low molecular weight molecules found within biological systems and can measure hundreds to thousands of metabolites to understand metabolism. The study found metabolic signatures in cerebrospinal fluid and plasma that correlate with AD severity. Signatures in plasma accurately reflected changes in CSF for both mild cognitive impairment and AD. Metabolomics may increase early AD diagnosis when used with other tests and could be conducted on blood, making it attractive for clinical use. Further validation studies in larger cohorts are still needed.
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MetabolomicsMetabolomics
• The study of low molecular weightThe study of low molecular weight
molecules (molecules (<1500 Da) or metabolitesor metabolites
found within cells and biological systemsfound within cells and biological systems
on global level (metabolome)on global level (metabolome)
• Measures changes downstream ofMeasures changes downstream of
genomic, transcriptomic and proteomicgenomic, transcriptomic and proteomic
alterations and, therefore, is consideredalterations and, therefore, is considered
more representative of the functionalmore representative of the functional
state of a cellstate of a cell
• Can measure hundreds to thousandsCan measure hundreds to thousands
of unique chemical entities providingof unique chemical entities providing
an overall understanding of metabolisman overall understanding of metabolism
• Metabolites are conserved acrossMetabolites are conserved across
various animal species, facilitating thevarious animal species, facilitating the
extrapolation of research findings inextrapolation of research findings in
laboratory animals to humanslaboratory animals to humans
• Is an integral part of system biologyIs an integral part of system biology
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Identification of Altered Metabolic Pathways in PlasmaIdentification of Altered Metabolic Pathways in Plasma
and CSF in Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer’sand CSF in Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer’s
Disease Using MetabolomicsDisease Using Metabolomics
E. Trushina, T. Dutta, X-M. T. Persson, M. M. Mielke, R. C. PetersenE. Trushina, T. Dutta, X-M. T. Persson, M. M. Mielke, R. C. Petersen
PLoS ONE 8(5): e63644.PLoS ONE 8(5): e63644.
Mayo Clinic Study of Aging and ADRC
CSF and
plasma
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ConclusionsConclusions
• Metabolomics offers novel approach to identify alterations in multiple
biochemical networks over the course of AD
• It allows identification of both expected and non-expected changes in
biochemical pathways in animal models of AD and in human samples
• Metabolic signatures in CSF and plasma correlate with AD severity
• Metabolic signatures in plasma accurately reflect changes in CSF:
MCI: 30% of the pathways altered in CSF and plasma were the same
AD: 60% of the pathways affected in CSF and plasma were the same
• Application of metabolomics in conjunction with other currently available
tests could increase early AD diagnosis
• Metabolomics could be conducted in readily available fluids such as blood
making it attractive for clinical application
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Future DirectionsFuture Directions
• Studies in larger patient cohorts are needed
• Test and sample validation studies need to be included in every project
• Acquisition of the data using multiple analytical platforms should increase
the accuracy and reproducibility
• Additional research is needed to reveal the role of metabolites linked
to AD pathology in the mechanisms of normal aging
Notas do Editor
15 cognitively normal (CN), 15 amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI), 15 AD UPLC – TOF-MS – based non-targeted metabolomics approach Patients were enrolled and followed in the Mayo Clinic population-based epidemiologic study of normal aging, MCSA, and Mayo Clinic Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC).
Acetylcholine, noradrenalin, dopamine and serotonin neurotransmitter systems are primarily affected in AD with subsequent loss of associated neurons ( 42 ). Consistent with that, we have found prominent, early changes in tryptophan biosynthesis in both CSF and plasma of MCI and AD patients (Fig. 3-5). Tryptophan is a precursor for serotonin, melatonin, and niacin synthesis ( 43-45 ). We also found alterations in the serotonin/melatonin pathway in CSF of both MCI and AD patients, and in plasma of MCI individuals (Fig. 3,4). These data are in agreement with recent studies indicating that loss of serotonergic neurons correlates with AD severity, memory impairment, and neuropsychiatric symptoms
Disorder in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis with increased cortisol levels in CSF and plasma is also well established for AD patients; and increased cortisol levels in CSF from AD patients have been recently demonstrated using metabolomic profiling [30]. Our data confirmed that the pathway related to the cortisol biosynthesis from cholesterol was significantly affected in both CSF and plasma from AD patients (Fig. 5). However, we also found that cortisone biosynthesis and metabolism was among the pathways that, along with PGE2, most accurately separated the clinical groups in CSF (Fig. 6). Among pathways that were uniquely affected in plasma of AD patients were those related to obesity and type II diabetes mellitus (Fig. 5). This is an important observation taking in consideration the data demonstrating that type II diabetes mellitus is associated with an increased risk of cognitive dysfunction and dementia, and needs to be explored in future studies [71] Moreover, our study identified CSF PGE2 biosynthesis and metabolism as one of the key pathways that varied with AD severity (Fig. 7). Implication of PGE2 in neural injury in AD is well documented, and includes modulation of protein-lipid interactions, trans-membrane and trans-synaptic signaling [69]. It was shown that levels of PGE2 measured in the CSF of control, MCI and AD patients enrolled in the longitudinal study inversely correlate with AD severity: PGE2 was higher in patients with mild memory impairment, but lower in those with more advanced AD [70].