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Updated: May 20, 2026
Semi-Targeted Ultra-High-Performance Chromatography Coupled to Mass Spectrometry Analysis of Phenolic Metabolites in Plasma of Elderly Adults
Published on: April 22, 2022
Profiling plasma peptides for the identification of potential ageing biomarkers in Chinese Han adults
Jiapeng Lu1, Yuqing Huang, Youxin Wang
1School of Public Health and Family Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
Insights
This study identified 44 aging-related peptides in Chinese adults using proteomic analysis. Key biomarkers like apolipoprotein A-I (ApoA1) and fibrinogen alpha (FGA) show age- and gender-dependent variations, offering insights into the aging process.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Proteomics
- Biomarker Discovery
Background:
- Aging is linked to chronic diseases like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer.
- Significant inter-individual variability exists in the aging process.
- Identifying reliable aging biomarkers is crucial for understanding and managing age-related health declines.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify novel aging-related biomarkers in the Chinese Han population.
- To investigate age- and gender-specific variations in plasma protein profiles.
- To explore the potential of identified peptides as indicators of biological aging.
Main Methods:
- Proteomic analysis using weak cation exchange magnetic bead-based MALDI-TOF-MS.
- Analysis of plasma samples from 1890 Chinese Han individuals (1136 males, 754 females) aged 18-82 years.
- Statistical analysis to identify peptides with age- and gender-dependent concentration changes.
Main Results:
- Identified 44 peptides with significant concentration variations across different age groups.
- Observed age-dependent changes: apolipoprotein A-I (ApoA1) increased (18-50 years), fibrinogen alpha (FGA) decreased (18-50 years), and albumin (ALB) degraded in middle age.
- Discovered gender-dependent plasma peptide profiles for FGA and four other unidentified proteins.
Conclusions:
- Plasma proteins FGA, ALB, and ApoA1 are significantly correlated with age in the Chinese Han population.
- These proteins show potential as indicative biomarkers for aging.
- Further research is warranted to validate these findings and explore the functional roles of identified peptides in aging.
Abstract:
Advancing age is associated with cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus and cancer, and shows significant inter-individual variability. To identify ageing-related biomarkers we performed a proteomic analysis on 1890 Chinese Han individuals, 1136 males and 754 females, aged 18 to 82 years, using weak cation exchange magnetic bead based MALDI-TOF-MS analysis. The study identified 44 peptides which varied in concentration in different age groups. In particular, apolipoprotein A-I (ApoA1) concentration gradually increased between 18 to 50 years of age, the levels of fibrinogen alpha (FGA) decreased over the same age span, while albumin (ALB) was significantly degraded in middle-aged individuals. In addition, the plasma peptide profiles of FGA and four other unidentified proteins were found to be gender-dependent. Plasma proteins such as FGA, ALB and ApoA1 are significantly correlated with age in the Chinese Han population and could be employed as indicative ageing-related biomarkers.