Differential metabolic profiling for biomarker discovery a mass spectrometric approach

Abstract

Effective biomarkers are urgently needed in a range of diseases for early and accurate diagnosis, and for monitoring disease progression and the effects of therapeutic intervention. A biomarker is defined as an attribute that is objectively measured and evaluated as an indicator of normal biological processes, pathogenic processes or pharmacological responses to a therapeutic intervention (GROUP, 2001). Biomarkers (Figure 1) range from simple low molecular weight molecules such as sugars, fatty acids, steroids and free-floating peptides, to soluble proteins and cell surface proteins, to complex integrated properties. Established metabolite biomarkers include cholesterol and glucose for monitoring the risk of heart disease and diabetes, respectively. Established protein markers include HDL/LDL and glycated hemoglobin (HbAlc) for the same indications. Cellular markers include Her2 for breast cancer and CD4 T cells for immune function in diseases like HIV infection. Biomarker discovery can benefit from a range of technology platforms that are most appropriate for evaluating different classes of analytes. © 2005 Springer Science+Business Media, Inc. All rights reserved.