Identification of SAA and ACTB as potential biomarker of patients with severe HFMD using iTRAQ quantitative proteomics

Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) is an infectious disease caused by a variety of enterovirus infections, and the most common types of virus infections are the newenterovirus71 (EV71) and coxsackievirus A group 16 (CoxA16). A small fraction of HFMD will cause further severe HFMD. A rapid and accurate diagnosis biomarker of severe HFMD is important for the timely treatment. In the study, we conducted a clinical biomarker discovery study using iTRAQ combined with MS. Serum proteome alterations in severe HFMD group (n = 32) and health control group (n = 32) were analyzed. 47 proteins were upregulated (fold change > 1.5) between the severe HFMD group and HC group. The identified proteins were classified into different groups according to the molecular function, biology processes, cellular component. During the up-regulated proteins, serum amyloid A (SAA) and human beta-actin (ACTB), were confirmed in the serum of the severe HFMD and HC by ELISA assay. SAA and ACTB levels were significantly higher in the sever HFMD patients (P < .01), consistent with iTRAQ-LC-MS/MS analysis. In summary, Our results showed that SAA and human beta-actin (ACTB) may be served as a potential biomarker of the clinical diagnosis of severe HFMD.