Identification of potential serum metabolic biomarkers for patient with keratoconus using untargeted metabolomics approach
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
10-1-2021
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the metabolite differences between patients with keratoconus and control subjects and identify potential serum biomarkers for keratoconus using a non-targeted metabolomics approach. Venous blood samples were obtained from patients with keratoconus (n = 20) as well as from age-, gender- and race-matched control subjects (n = 20). Metabolites extracted from serum were separated and analyzed by liquid chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometer. Processing of raw data and analysis of the data files was performed using Agilent Mass Hunter Qualitative software. The identified metabolites were subjected to a principal component and hierarchical cluster analysis. Appropriate statistical tests were used to analyze the metabolomic profiling data. Together, the analysis revealed that the dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate from the steroidal hormone synthesis pathway was significantly upregulated in patients with keratoconus (p < 0.05). Also, a combination of eicosanoids from the arachidonic acid pathway, mainly prostaglandin F2 alpha, prostaglandin A2, 16,16-dimethyl prostaglandin E2, and 5-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid were collectively up-regulated as a group in keratoconus patients (p < 0.05). On the other hand, glycerophospholipid PS(17:2(9Z,12Z)/20:4 (5Z,8Z,11Z,14Z)) was found to be significantly upregulated in the metabolomics profiles of control subjects (p < 0.05). The differently regulated metabolites provide insights into the pathophysiology of keratoconus and could potentially be used as biomarkers for keratoconus to aid in screening for individuals at risk hence, enabling early diagnosis and timely monitoring of disease.
Keywords
Metabolomics profiling, Keratoconus, Biomarkers, LC-ESI-Q-ToF, MS, Cornea
Divisions
fac_med
Funders
University of Malaya Postgraduate Research Grant from the University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (PO028-2015A)
Publication Title
Experimental Eye Research
Volume
211
Publisher
Academic Press Ltd - Elsevier Science Ltd
Publisher Location
24-28 OVAL RD, LONDON NW1 7DX, ENGLAND