Plasma metabolic profiling of Alzheimer's disease by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry

Objectives: The identification of Alzheimer's disease (AD) biomarkers may allow for a less invasive and more accurate diagnosis as well as serve as a predictor of future disease progression and treatment response. The aim of this study was to map potential biomarkers in plasma for AD. Design and methods: Plasma metabolic perturbations between AD and healthy old person were investigated using ultra performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (UPLC/MS) and metabonomics approach. The principal component analysis (PCA) of UPLC/MS spectra showed that metabolic changes between two groups. Results: The PCA of UPLC/MS spectra showed that metabolic changes observed between AD and control were clear. Nine potential biomarkers in correlation with the extent of AD were found. Conclusions: Based on PCA, several potential biomarkers (LPCs, sphingosine and tryptophan) were found and further identified by the following LC/MS/MS analysis. All of them could be the potential early markers of AD. (C) 2010 The Canadian Society of Clinical Chemists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.