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UPLC/Q-TOF MS-Based Urine Metabonomics Study to Identify Diffuse Axonal Injury Biomarkers in Rat.
Peng Zhang1,2, Sheng Wang1, Meiqing Liu1
1Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou 570102, China.
Disease Markers
|October 3, 2022
Summary
Researchers identified novel urine biomarkers for diagnosing diffuse axonal injury (DAI), a severe form of traumatic brain injury (TBI). This non-invasive approach using metabolomics offers a reliable method for early detection and monitoring of DAI prognosis.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biochemistry
- Biomarker Discovery
Background:
- Diffuse axonal injury (DAI) is a common traumatic brain injury (TBI) with poor neurological outcomes and high mortality.
- Delayed and nonspecific symptoms, coupled with costly or low-sensitivity diagnostic methods, hinder effective DAI management.
- Non-invasive, reliable, and objective diagnostic markers are crucial for improving DAI patient prognosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify novel urinary biomarkers for the non-invasive diagnosis and monitoring of diffuse axonal injury (DAI).
- To investigate metabolic alterations associated with DAI using untargeted metabolomics.
- To establish a reliable diagnostic approach for DAI prognosis.
Main Methods:
- Establishment of a DAI rat model.
- Application of ultra-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole-time-of-flight hybrid mass spectrometry (UPLC/Q-TOF MS) for untargeted urine metabolomics.
- Analysis of metabolite alterations and metabolic pathways.
Main Results:
- Identification of 57 significantly altered metabolites and 21 abnormal metabolic pathways in DAI.
- Discovery of urea, butyric acid, and taurine as potential biomarkers for DAI diagnosis based on significant fold changes and biological relevance.
- Validation of novel biomarkers for non-invasive DAI diagnosis and monitoring.
Conclusions:
- Urine metabolomics can effectively diagnose and monitor diffuse axonal injury (DAI).
- Urea, butyric acid, and taurine show promise as novel, non-invasive biomarkers for DAI.
- This study provides insights into DAI-associated metabolic changes and aids in understanding disease progression.
