Novel methodologies for biomarker discovery in atherosclerosis

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular disease research
• Biomarker discovery
• Proteomics and metabolomics

Background:

• Traditional cardiovascular risk factors have limitations in predicting individual risk.
• Accurate identification of high-risk individuals is essential for effective cardiovascular disease prevention and management.
• Current biomarkers like hsCRP and NT-proBNP have limitations in precise individual risk assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To summarize current vascular biomarkers beyond traditional risk factors.
• To highlight the role of emerging -omics technologies in biomarker discovery.
• To discuss the limitations of existing biomarkers and the potential of novel approaches.

Main Methods:

• Review of current literature on vascular biomarkers.
• Focus on -omics technologies including micro-RNAs, proteomics, metabolomics, and lipidomics.
• Discussion of novel plasma-derived markers from microparticles, microvesicles, and exosomes.

Main Results:

• Shift in focus from HDL cholesterol to HDL composition and function.
• Identification of circulating micro-RNAs as promising biomarkers.
• Utilizing mass spectrometry and NMR spectroscopy for proteomic and metabolomic analysis, particularly pro-inflammatory lipid metabolites.

Conclusions:

• Novel -omics technologies and advanced analytical methods are key to discovering new cardiovascular biomarkers.
• Understanding HDL composition and function offers improved risk assessment.
• Future research should focus on integrating these novel biomarkers for enhanced individual cardiovascular risk prediction.