abstract
Purpose To differentiate the plasma metabolomic profile of patients with age related macular degeneration (AMD) from that of controls, by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Methods Two cohorts (total of 396 subjects) representative of central Portugal and Boston, USA phenotypes were studied. For each cohort, subjects were grouped according to AMD stage (early, intermediate and late). Multivariate analysis of plasma NMR spectra was performed, followed by signal integration and univariate analysis. Results Small changes were detected in the levels of some amino acids, organic acids, dimethyl sulfone and specific lipid moieties, thus providing some biochemical information on the disease. The possible confounding effects of gender, smoking history and age were assessed in each cohort and found to be minimal when compared to that of the disease. A similar observation was noted in relation to age-related comorbidities. Furthermore, partially distinct putative AMD metabolite fingerprints were noted for the two cohorts studied, reflecting the importance of nutritional and other lifestyle habits in determining AMD metabolic response and potential biomarker fingerprints. Notably, some of the metabolite changes detected were noted as potentially differentiating controls from patients diagnosed with early AMD. Conclusion For the first time, this study showed metabolite changes in the plasma of patients with AMD as compared to controls, using NMR. Geographical origins were seen to affect AMD patients A metabolic profile and some metabolites were found to be valuable in potentially differentiating controls from early stage AMD patients. Metabolomics has the potential of identifying biomarkers for AMD, and further work in this area is warranted.
keywords
OXIDATIVE STRESS; DIABETIC-RETINOPATHY; NMR-SPECTROSCOPY; VITREOUS-HUMOR; METABONOMICS; SIGNATURES; DISEASE; EYE; OPHTHALMOLOGY; PREVALENCE
subject category
Science & Technology - Other Topics
authors
Lains, I; Duarte, D; Barros, AS; Martins, AS; Gil, J; Miller, JB; Marques, M; Mesquita, TAN; Kim, IK; Cachulo, MD; Vavvas, D; Carreira, IM; Murta, JN; Silva, R; Miller, JW; Husain, D; Gil, AM
our authors
Projects
acknowledgements
This project was funded by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (HMSP-ICJ/0006/2013), the Miller Retina Research Fund (MEE) and the Miller Champalimaud Award (MEE). This work was also developed within the scope of the project CICECOAveiro Institute of Materials, POCI-01-0145FEDER-007679 (FCT ref. UlD /CTM/50011/2013), financed by national funds through the FCT/MEC and when appropriate co-financed by FEDER under the PT2020 Partnership Agreement. We also acknowledge the Portuguese National NMR Network (RNRMN), supported by FCT funds. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.; This project was funded by the Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia (FCT) (HMSP-ICJ/ 0006/2013), the Miller Retina Research Fund (MEE) and the Miller Champalimaud Award (MEE). This work was also developed within the scope of the project CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials, POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007679 (FCT Ref. UID /CTM /50011/2013), financed by national funds through the FCT/MEC and when appropriate co-financed by FEDER under the PT2020 Partnership Agreement. AMG acknowledges the Portuguese National NMR Network (RNRMN), supported by FCT funds.