Metabolomics and Proteomics, and What to Do with All These 'Omes': Insights from Nutrigenomic Investigations in New Zealand

Multifaceted Pharmacological Potentials of Curcumin, Genistein, and Tanshinone IIA through Proteomic Approaches: An In-Depth Review

Phytochemicals possess various intriguing pharmacological properties against diverse pathological conditions. Extensive studies are on-going to understand the structural/functional properties of phytochemicals as well as the molecular mechanisms of their therapeutic function against various disease conditions. Phytochemicals such as curcumin (Cur), genistein (Gen), and tanshinone-IIA (Tan IIA) have multifaceted therapeutic potentials and various efforts are in progress to understand the molecular dynamics of their function with different tools and technologies. Cur is an active lipophilic polyphenol with pleiotropic function, and it has been shown to possess various intriguing properties including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anticancer, and anti-genotoxic properties besides others beneficial properties. Similarly, Gen (an isoflavone) exhibits a wide range of vital functions including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, pro-apoptotic, anti-proliferative, anti-angiogenic activities etc. In addition, Tan IIA, a lipophilic compound, possesses antioxidant, anti-angiogenic, anti-inflammatory, anticancer activities, and so on. Over the last few decades, the field of proteomics has garnered great momentum mainly attributed to the recent advancement in mass spectrometry (MS) techniques. It is envisaged that the proteomics technology has considerably contributed to the biomedical research endeavors lately. Interestingly, they have also been explored as a reliable approach to understand the molecular intricacies related to phytochemical-based therapeutic interventions. The present review provides an overview of the proteomics studies performed to unravel the underlying molecular intricacies of various phytochemicals such as Cur, Gen, and Tan IIA. This in-depth study will help the researchers in better understanding of the pharmacological potential of the phytochemicals at the proteomics level. Certainly, this review will be highly instrumental in catalyzing the translational shift from phytochemical-based biomedical research to clinical practice in the near future.

Mass Spectrometry as a Crucial Analytical Basis for Omics Sciences

This review is devoted to the consideration of mass spectrometric platforms as applied to omics sciences. The most significant attention is paid to omics related to life sciences (genomics, proteomics, meta-bolomics, lipidomics, glycomics, plantomics, etc.). Mass spectrometric approaches to solving the problems of petroleomics, polymeromics, foodomics, humeomics, and exosomics, related to inorganic sciences, are also discussed. The review comparatively presents the advantages of various principles of separation and mass spectral techniques, complementary derivatization, used to obtain large arrays of various structural and quantitative information in the mentioned omics sciences.

Proteomic insights on the metabolism in inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are chronic and relapsing inflammatory conditions of the gut that include Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. The pathogenesis of IBD is not completely unraveled, IBD are multi-factorial diseases with reported alterations in the gut microbiota, activation of different immune cell types, changes in the vascular endothelium, and alterations in the tight junctions’ structure of the colonic epithelial cells. Proteomics represents a useful tool to enhance our biological understanding and to discover biomarkers in blood and intestinal specimens. It is expected to provide reproducible and quantitative data that can support clinical assessments and help clinicians in the diagnosis and treatment of IBD. Sometimes a differential diagnosis of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis and the prediction of treatment response can be deducted by finding meaningful biomarkers. Although some non-invasive biomarkers have been described, none can be considered as the “gold standard” for IBD diagnosis, disease activity and therapy outcome. For these reason new studies have proposed an “IBD signature”, which consists in a panel of biomarkers used to assess IBD. The above described approach characterizes “omics” and in this review we will focus on proteomics.

Dietary Pattern Specific Protein Biomarkers for Cardiovascular Disease: A Cross-Sectional Study in 2 Independent Cohorts

Background Mechanisms related to the influence of diet on the development of cardiovascular disease are not entirely understood, and protein biomarkers may help to understand these pathways. Studies of biomarkers identified with multiplex proteomic methods and dietary patterns are largely lacking. Methods and Results Dietary patterns were generated through principal component analysis in 2 population-based Swedish cohorts, the EpiHealth (EpiHealth study; n=20 817 men and women) and the SMCC (Swedish Mammography Cohort Clinical [n=4650 women]). A set of 184 protein cardiovascular disease biomarkers were measured with 2 high-throughput, multiplex immunoassays. Discovery and replication multivariable linear regression analyses were used to investigate the associations between the principal component analysis-generated dietary patterns and the cardiovascular disease-associated protein biomarkers, first in the EpiHealth (n=2240) and then in the Swedish Mammography Cohort Clinical. Four main dietary patterns were identified in the EpiHealth, and 3 patterns were identified in the Swedish Mammography Cohort Clinical. The healthy and the Western/traditional patterns were found in both cohorts. In the EpiHealth, 57 protein biomarkers were associated with 3 of the dietary patterns, and 41 of these associations were replicated in the Swedish Mammography Cohort Clinical, with effect estimates ranging from 0.057 to 0.083 (P-value range, 5.0×10-2-1.4×10-9) for each SD increase in the relative protein concentration. Independent associations were established between dietary patterns and the 21 protein biomarkers. Two proteins, myeloperoxidase and resistin, were associated with both the healthy and the light meal pattern but in opposite directions. Conclusions We have discovered and replicated independent associations between dietary patterns and 21 biomarkers linked to cardiovascular disease, which have a role in the pathways related to inflammation, endothelial and immune function, cell adhesion, and metabolism.

Clinical Usefulness of Proteomics in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Comprehensive Review

The protein domain is probably the most ubiquitously affected in disease, response and recovery, and therefore proteomics holds special promise for biomarker discovery in general, and particularly in inflammatory bowel disease [IBD], i.e. ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Tremendous progress has been made over the past decade in the development and refinement of proteomics technologies. These advances provide opportunities for a long-anticipated personalized medicine approach to the treatment of IBD. The present review examines the current state of IBD proteomics research and its usefulness in clinical practice. We performed a systematic bibliographic search to identify studies investigating the use of proteomics in patients with IBD, and we then summarized the current 'state of the art' in the applications of proteomic technologies in the study of IBD. In particular, in the present review we provide: [1] a brief introduction to proteomics in health and disease; [2] a review of the different stages from biomarker discovery to clinical application; and [3] a comprehensive review of the clinical usefulness and application of proteomics in IBD, including: [a] screening to differentiate IBD from healthy controls; [b] differentiating Crohn's disease from ulcerative colitis; [c] prediction of the behaviour or the IBD course; [d] prediction of IBD response to biological treatment; and [e] monitoring response to treatment. We also review the importance of the type of sample-blood vs intestinal tissue-for the study of proteomics in IBD patients. Finally, we emphasize the current limitations of proteomic studies in IBD.

Proteomics in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Approach Using Animal Models

Recently, proteomics studies have provided important information on the role of proteins in health and disease. In the domain of inflammatory bowel disease, proteomics has shed important light on the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of inflammation and has contributed to the discovery of some putative clinical biomarkers of disease activity. By being able to obtain a large number of specimens from multiple sites and control for confounding environmental, genetic, and metabolic factors, proteomics studies using animal models of colitis offered an alternative approach to human studies. Our aim is to review the information and lessons acquired so far from the use of proteomics in animal models of colitis. These studies helped understand the importance of different proteins at different stages of the disease and unraveled the different pathways that are activated or inhibited during the inflammatory process. Expressed proteins related to inflammation, cellular structure, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and energy depletion advanced the knowledge about the reaction of intestinal cells to inflammation and repair. The role of mesenteric lymphocytes, exosomes, and the intestinal mucosal barrier was emphasized in the inflammatory process. In addition, studies in animal models revealed mechanisms of the beneficial effects of some therapeutic interventions and foods or food components on intestinal inflammation by monitoring changes in protein expression and paved the way for some new possible inflammatory pathways to target in the future. Advances in proteomics technology will further clarify the interaction between intestinal microbiota and IBD pathogenesis and investigate the gene-environmental axis of IBD etiology.

Why Are Omics Technologies Important to Understanding the Role of Nutrition in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases?

For many years, there has been confusion about the role that nutrition plays in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). It is apparent that good dietary advice for one individual may prove inappropriate for another. As with many diseases, genome-wide association studies across large collaborative groups have been important in revealing the role of genetics in IBD, with more than 200 genes associated with susceptibility to the disease. These associations provide clues to explain the differences in nutrient requirements among individuals. In addition to genes directly involved in the control of inflammation, a number of the associated genes play roles in modulating the gut microbiota. Cell line models enable the generation of hypotheses as to how various bioactive dietary components might be especially beneficial for certain genetic groups. Animal models are necessary to mimic aspects of the complex aetiology of IBD, and provide an important link between tissue culture studies and human trials. Once we are sufficiently confident of our hypotheses, we can then take modified diets to an IBD population that is stratified according to genotype. Studies in IBD patients fed a Mediterranean-style diet have been important in validating our hypotheses and as a proof-of-principle for the application of these sensitive omics technologies to aiding in the control of IBD symptoms.