Proteomic Signatures Over Age Reveal Significant Changes From Infancy Till Late Adulthood.

Area of Science:

• Proteomics
• Human Lifespan Studies
• Biomarker Discovery

Background:

• Biomarkers are vital for drug development and diagnostics.
• Lack of age-specific protein references hinders disease tracking and treatment monitoring.
• Understanding age-related proteomic changes is essential for comprehensive health assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore age-related alterations in the serum proteome across the entire human lifespan.
• To identify distinct protein expression patterns associated with different age groups.
• To establish age-specific normal expression ranges for serum proteins.

Main Methods:

• Utilized proximity extension assays (Olink) to measure serum protein levels.
• Analyzed samples from 264 healthy individuals aged 0 days to 88 years.
• Employed cluster analysis and weighted correlation network analysis to identify protein patterns and modules.

Main Results:

• Identified two distinct clusters based on age: neonates (≤11 days) and older individuals (2 months to 88 years).
• Discovered five protein modules, with four enriched in specific biological pathways.
• Defined four age-related protein expression patterns: constant, increasing, decreasing, and U-shaped.

Conclusions:

• Healthy aging involves significant alterations in serum protein expression throughout the lifespan.
• Distinct protein profiles characterize newborns, children, adults, and older adults.
• The study provides valuable reference data for age-specific protein expression, aiding biomarker research.