LC-MS-based serum metabolomics reveals distinct metabolic signatures in patients with cerebral infarction

Cerebral infarction is a common cerebrovascular disease associated with high mortality. This study compared the metabolic profiles and class distributions between patients with cerebral infarction (n = 10) and a control group without cerebral infarction (n = 10) using serum-based metabolomics. A total of 3,160 metabolites were identified in the serum of patients with cerebral infarction, among which benzene and its substituted derivatives accounted for the largest proportion (15.71%), followed by amino acids and their metabolites (12.39%), organic acids and their derivatives (12.32%), and heterocyclic compounds (12.05%). In the control group, amino acids and their derivatives accounted for the largest proportion (18.49%). Principal component analysis (PCA) and OPLS-DA models revealed clear metabolic separation between the two groups, indicating pronounced metabolic reprogramming in patients with cerebral infarction. A total of 329 differential metabolites were identified between patients with cerebral infarction (n = 10) and control subjects. Serum levels of benzene derivatives, organic acids and bile acids were significantly elevated in patients with cerebral infarction, while levels of amino acids, their derivatives and glycerophospholipids were reduced. Network analysis revealed strong positive correlations among differentially expressed lipid metabolites, and benzene derivatives showed negative correlations with amino acid-related metabolites. Enrichment analysis also revealed that these differentially expressed metabolites were primarily involved in lipid metabolism, amino acid metabolism, energy metabolism and inflammation-related pathways. The study demonstrated significant abnormalities in the serum metabolic profiles of patients with cerebral infarction, characterized by disturbances in aromatic compound and lipid metabolism. This provides a basis for the screening of potential biomarkers and the study of pathological mechanisms of cerebral infarction.