Metabolomic profiles in allergic rhinitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a prevalent chronic inflammatory condition that significantly affects patient quality of life and poses a substantial public health burden. Recent advancements in metabolomics have facilitated a deeper understanding of the metabolic pathways involved in AR, offering potential for new biomarkers and therapeutic targets.

To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical studies summarizing the metabolomic profiles of AR to gain deeper insights into the metabolic changes and pathologic processes underlying AR.

A comprehensive literature search was conducted across PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science databases up to October 2024. A qualitative review of the screened studies was performed, followed by meta-analyses of metabolites reported in at least 2 studies. High-impact targets, pathways, and their associations were identified using bioinformatic analyses.

A total of 21 studies, encompassing 84 metabolites associated with AR, met the inclusion criteria. There were 7 metabolites that consistently exhibited up-regulation in AR across multiple studies and were included in the meta-analysis. Pathway enrichment analyses revealed significant involvement of pathways such as "valine, leucine, and isoleucine biosynthesis" and "linoleic acid metabolism" in AR pathogenesis. The metabolite-pathway-gene network analysis highlighted key functional connections between metabolites, pathways, and immune response genes.

This comprehensive analysis indicates that differential metabolites may play pivotal roles in AR pathogenesis, offering potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Further studies are necessary to validate these findings and elucidate the complex metabolic pathways involved in AR.