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Published on: April 9, 2019

Age-related differences in plasma proteins: how plasma proteins change from neonates to adults

Vera Ignjatovic1, Cera Lai, Robyn Summerhayes

  • 1Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia. verai@unimelb.edu.au

Plos One
|March 3, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Human plasma proteome significantly changes from infancy to adulthood, impacting disease risk. These developmental differences in proteins offer insights into age-related disease incidence and human developmental biology.

Area of Science:

  • Proteomics
  • Developmental Biology
  • Human Physiology

Background:

  • Major diseases like cardiovascular disease, thrombosis, and cancer increase with age, contributing to global mortality.
  • Neonates and children exhibit a natural protection against age-related diseases.
  • Hypothesis: Developmental differences in plasma proteins contribute to age-related disease incidence.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate developmental differences in the human plasma proteome.
  • To compare plasma protein profiles in neonates, children, and adults.
  • To investigate the link between plasma proteome changes and age-related disease incidence.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized 2D-DIGE (Difference Gel Electrophoresis) approach.
  • Analyzed the human plasma proteome in healthy neonates, children, and adults.
  • Identified significant changes in protein spots and abundance.

Main Results:

  • Observed significant alterations in up to 100 protein spots during the transition from neonate/child to adult plasma proteomes.
  • Identified differentially expressed proteins involved in iron transport, homeostasis, immune response, hemostasis, and apoptosis.
  • Found that age-related protein expression differs from gender-related expression, and protein phosphorylation changes with age.

Conclusions:

  • Significant age-dependent changes occur in the human plasma proteome.
  • These proteomic shifts are linked to developmental biology and may influence age-related disease susceptibility.
  • Understanding these differences is crucial for advancing human developmental biology and disease research.

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