Advances in proteomic techniques for biomarker discovery in COPD
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 5, 2026

Navigating the Mass Spectrometry-Based Proteomic Data Using Free Computational Tools
Published on: August 19, 2025
Begoña Casado1, Maurizio Luisetti, Paolo Iadarola
1Quality and Safety Department, Nestlé Research Center, Nestec Ltd., Vers-chez-les-Blanc, 1000 Lausanne 26, Switzerland. begona.casado@rdls.nestle.com
Abstract:
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a disorder characterized by chronic inflammation of the lung with airflow obstruction and progressive deterioration of pulmonary function. The need to discover and validate biomarkers as prognostic tools of development and progression of the disease has received further support with the advent of proteomic techniques. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC/MS) and gel electrophoresis-mass spectrometry (2-DE/MS) have been applied to investigate the proteome of a number of lung-origin samples, including sputum, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, exhaled-breath condensate, cells and biopsies from COPD patients. In particular, 2-DE and MS are the main proteomic approaches with 2-DE presenting the major approach for quantitative proteomics. The molecules identified as potential biomarkers of COPD may represent a preliminary step for better comprehension of the mechanisms involved in the onset/progression of the disease.
Related Concept Videos
COPD: Pathogenesis and Clinical Features
The primary cause for the onset of COPD is cigarette smoking and exposure to air pollution. These hazardous factors initiate a chain reaction within the lungs, resulting in chronic inflammation, damage to the airways, and a...
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-IV: Assessement and Diagnostic Studies
Medical History
Proteomics
Proteomics is the study of proteomes' function. It involves the large-scale systematic study of the proteome to denote the protein complement expressed by a genome. Scientist Mark Wilkins coined the term proteomics...
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease II: Emphysema
COPD: Management Using Bronchodilators and Corticosteroids
Pharmacogenomics: Identification of New Drug Targets